Erica Garner is making sure her father is not forgotten. Eric Garner died July 17 after being placed in a choke hold by a New York City police officer. Last month a grand jury decided not to indict the officer who inflicted the choke hold. That decision sparked protests and marches, in which Erica has taken part.
In memory of her father, Erica and family member Stephen Flagg recorded a tribute song titled “This Ends Today.”
“Life should be protected if justice is real, do you know how we feel?” the song goes. “The pain in our hearts, still refuses to heal, today some police be plotting to kill.”
Throughout the song you can hear Eric’s last words of “I can’t breathe,” which have become symbolic and made their way onto T-shirts and into protest chants.
Even though their father died at the hands of a police officer, Erica’s sister, Emerald, made a gesture of kindness when she showed her respect at a memorial for one of two NYPD officers who were killed in December. She said she understood how the officer’s young son felt when it came to losing his father, and wanted to show her respect.