Bill de Blasio, Cory Booker interrupted at debate by protesters demanding justice for Eric Garner


New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was heckled during his opening statement at the Democratic debate on Wednesday night by a protester shouting "fire Pantaleo." Further shouts of "fire Pantaleo" later broke out again when New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker was giving his opening statement.
The shouted protests were apparently in reference to Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer who put Eric Garner in a chokehold before his death in 2014. Garner's arrest and gasps of "I can't breathe" became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement, although a grand jury ultimately did not indict Pantaleo despite his use of a banned chokehold being caught on camera.
Earlier this month, the Justice Department decided that it would not file civil rights charges against Pantaleo. Pantaleo is controversially still employed by the NYPD on modified assignment.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"All eyes now fall to City Hall, where Mayor Bill de Blasio can finally deliver some measure of justice to the Garner family and those communities historically plagued by police brutality by firing NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo," Legal Aid Society attorney-in-charge Tina Luongo told the New York Daily News. "We hope that the Mayor at long last prioritizes the people of New York over the police union and abandons the political calculation that has ruled his decision making on this matter to date."
De Blasio largely hasn't expressed his feelings on Pantaleo's continued employment. "I'm not going to venture personal opinions," he said earlier this month. "When you're the steward of the entire city this is not about personal opinions."
Booker, for one, took the interruption in stride. "To the folks who were standing up to Mayor de Blasio a few minutes ago — good for you," his campaign tweeted. "That's how change is made."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Political cartoons for October 18
Cartoons Saturday's editorial cartoons include conversion therapy, Russ Vought, and more
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on Chicago
Talking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
Crossword: October 18, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections