NYCLU Statement on NYPD Decision to Fire Daniel Pantaleo

Affiliate: ACLU of New York
August 19, 2019 2:15 pm

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NEW YORK – NYPD Police Commissioner James O’Neill announced today that Daniel Pantaleo has been fired from the department for placing Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold in 2014.

The NYCLU issued the following statement from Executive Director Donna Lieberman in response:

“For five long years, the family of Eric Garner has fought for some semblance of justice after Garner’s life was taken from them by Daniel Pantaleo. While today’s decision will not bring Eric Garner back to life or erase the pain felt by his family, it affirms what we all know: Pantaleo used excessive force on an unarmed Black man and is not fit to serve as a police officer.

“While this is some measure of long-overdue relief, we have a long way to go to achieve true police accountability. The NYPD must take further steps to rebuild trust between officers and the communities they serve, put an end to police brutality against communities of color, and ensure what happened to Eric Garner will never happen again.”

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