Remembering Erica Garner | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Remembering Erica Garner

A beacon for activism and strength.

1853
Remembering Erica Garner
LEFT / Twitter

Erica Garner, an activist, and daughter of Eric Garner, passed away on December 30th at the age of 27.

The week prior, she had endured an asthma episode and was placed in a medically induced coma, which precipitated a major heart attack and subsequent brain damage. In wake of her passing, it is vital that her work is remembered and furthered.

Erica became a public figure when her father died in 2014, after he was put into a chokehold by a New York City police officer who questioned him for selling untaxed cigarettes. Eric Garner also suffered from asthma, and while being choked repeated the phrase “I can’t breathe” eleven times. This phrase became a marker of police brutality, and a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement which seeks to challenge it.

Though Mr. Garner’s death was deemed a homicide, Officer Pantaleo was not charged for having killed him. Erica Garner had since made a consistent effort to draw attention to the implications of her father’s death and to ensure that similar instances are wholly prevented. She began staging weekly “die-ins” after his death, lying in the spot where her father was killed as a method of protest. She led marches, rallies, spoke on television and on radio programs, and met with political figures, all in hope of sparking wider reform to deal with uncontested police killings.

Her journey was met with significant resistance: “From police barricades being installed at the locations where her group is known to march, to the Staten Island police scheduling rallies at the same time– and on the same route as hers– to attacks from political hit-men.”

Her persistence and her commitment to honesty remain her most notable traits. In conversation with Rolling Stone, she said of her father’s death: “I don’t want people to see my father as something he wasn’t. He was just a man. That’s what I want people to see, an ordinary man who tried.” She spoke of her own struggles with providing for her young son, Eric, and of considering selling drugs. Despite this, she never wavered in pursuit of her larger goal, and in putting forth her opinions, however controversial they were deemed.

During the 2016 elections, she endorsed Bernie Sanders for having protested systemic racism throughout his life, and then explained her reasons for becoming an activist. She stated, “I feel like a representative for people throughout this whole nation because I’m doing this, I’m speaking out, me being his daughter. And that’s what I want to do, I just want to tell my truths...I’m never going to forget. And I don’t want the world to forget what happened to my dad.”

To the Washington Post, she claimed, “Even with my own heartbreak, when I demand justice, it’s never just for Eric Garner. It’s for my daughter; it’s for the next generation of African Americans.”

Erica Garner remains a symbol of resilience, and her death is a loss to all. For her work to be continued is crucial to ensuring the safety she wished for future generations.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180202
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7265
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452490
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23288
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments