Memorial, protest mark Eric Garner chokehold death anniversary

Supporters of Eric Garner, who died three years ago after an NYPD officer put him in an illegal chokehold on Staten Island, will mark the anniversary with a memorial service in Harlem and a protest on Staten Island.

Garner's family reached a $5.9 million settlement with New York City over the death, but have called for charges to be filed against the cops involved.

Garner's daughter, Erica Garner, took to Twitter Monday writing: "On today 3 years ago Black man named #EricGarner was murdered and the murder was covered up in #NYC. To this day we have not seen justice."

In 2015, Eric Garner, 43, was standing in front of a convenience store on Staten Island when he was confronted by several police officers who believed he was selling loose cigarettes. A video shot by an onlooker shows Garner, who was black, telling the officers to leave him alone and refusing to be handcuffed.

Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who is white, placed his arm around Garner's neck to take him down. Garner is heard gasping "I can't breathe!" 11 times before losing consciousness.

His death, coupled with police killings of unarmed black men elsewhere, spurred protests around the country about police treatment of black men.

Monday's memorial is planned for 7 p.m. at the First Corinthian Baptist Church on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.

A protest is planned for the same time outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

With the Associated Press