LULAC Concerned With Grand Jury's Decision Not to Indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the Death of Eric Garner

December 9, 2014

Contact:
Paloma Zuleta
202-812-4477

Washington, D.C. – Eric Garner was killed by police during an attempted arrest. Garner was placed in a choke-hold, a physical tactic that the NYPD has banned, and died during the encounter. Any question as to the cause of death was resolved through the coroner’s report, which ruled the death a homicide as a result of the choke-hold and compression of his chest. The alleged crime at issue, simply selling individual cigarettes.

LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes issued the following statement regarding the grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner:

"The grand jury's decision not to indict the officer responsible for the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed man, has once again shocked the nation's conscience. Just as in the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, a Staten Island grand jury decided to ignore clear evidence of a homicide and give the officer responsible a pass. An outraged nation has voiced its concern through demonstrations from coast to coast. In addition, minority communities are left wondering how to work with a criminal justice system that continues to protect its officers over the welfare of its citizens. LULAC rejects the grand jury's decision and is disappointed that officer Daniel Pantaleo will not be held responsible for his criminal conduct. LULAC supports Attorney General Holder's recent decision to open a federal criminal civil rights investigation in this matter and hopes that the federal investigation will right this injustice."

###