A white New York City police officer has not been charged over the chokehold death of a black man Eric Garner. Civil rights leaders are now planning a march on racial justice in Washington.
The decision not to charge Officer Pantaleo with Mr. Garner’s death came just one week after a grand jury chose not to charge the white officer who shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri
Also last week, hundreds of people blocked a Cleveland freeway to protest over the Garner and Brown killings, along with the fatal shooting of a black 12-year-old boy by another white officer in Cleveland.
Police said the officer thought the boy was holding a firearm, but it was an airsoft gun that shoots plastic pellets.
Mr Garner, 43, died as officers were attempting to arrest him for selling untaxed cigarettes on the street. The incident was captured on video and Mr. Garner, who had asthma, was heard repeating “I can’t breathe!” He later died at a hospital.
The coroner ruled that the chokehold, which is illegal for police officers to carry out, contributed to Mr Garner’s death.
Mr Garner’s widow was visibly angry as she said she would not accept any apology offered to her.