Federal Government To Investigate Eric Garner Chokehold Case

[kpete]

Source: Buzzfeed



A Staten Island grand jury Wednesday declined to charge an NYPD officer who killed the unarmed Garner with a chokehold. Attorney General Eric Holder told New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio that the federal government will now investigate.

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeednews/new-york-braces-for-decision-on-charges-in-eric-garner-choke

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CBS News ✔ @CBSNews
Follow
BREAKING: Department of Justice to investigate NYPD chokehold death of Eric Garner after grand jury declines to indict police officer
3:08 PM - 3 Dec 2014
https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/540281481592324096


DOJ to open criminal civil rights investigation into Eric Garner's death

The Justice Department will open a criminal civil rights investigation into the death of Eric Garner, a department official confirmed to CBS News.

The announcement follows the news that a grand jury in New York declined to return any charges against the New York City police officer who used a chokehold on Garner, who died after the confrontation.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-to-open-criminal-civil-rights-investigation-into-eric-garners-death/

[olddots]

1. did you say Simi Valley ?

Might as well be .

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Just saw the Washington Post breaking. nt

[former9thward]

3. These federal investigations are for PR only.

They would have to prove that the officer intended to deprive Garner of his civil rights. It is an impossible standard to prove. That is why no federal charges in Treyvon Martin or the Ferguson cases.

[kpete]

4. interesting tidbits here:

Updated: Sen. Gillibrand and Schumer Ask for and Receive DOJ Investigation of Garner Killing

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/03/1349155/-Sen-Gillibrand-to-Ask-For-DOJ-Investigation-of-Police-Killing-of-Eric-Garner

Dem Sen. Gillibrand: I Will Ask Justice Department To Investigate Chokehold Deathhttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gillibrand-eric-garner-chokehold-department-of-justice

[Voice for Peace]

5. change is coming. I don't know how or what but the President is becoming acutely aware

and I thought his recent meeting with young activists from Ferguson
was powerfully productive.

This is not a president who puts a whole lot of energy into PR.
He prefers to get things done.

[branford]

6. The president cannot change the criminal civil rights laws

or how the courts interpret the laws. It's classic separation of powers.

I certainly have no objection to a federal investigation into the Garner choking, but federal criminal civil rights charges are notoriously difficult to charge, no less prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

Starting a "federal investigation" is, more often than not, just a placating measure designed to calm a situation.

[Voice for Peace]

9. in case you didn't see this

I'll remain hopeful. Awareness is rising.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/01/1348725/-Young-Ferguson-Activists-Meet-With-Obama-Six-Fine-Solutions-Emerge

*The federal government using its power to prosecute police officers that kill or abuse people.

*Removing local district attorneys from the job of holding police accountable, and instead having independent prosecutors at the local level charged with prosecuting officers.

*The establishment of community review boards that can make recommendations for police misconduct, instead of allowing police departments to police themselves.

*Defunding local police departments that use excessive force or racially profile.

*Instead of having the Department of Justice (DOJ) wholesale giving more than $250 million to local police departments annually, DOJ should only fund departments that agree to adopt DOJ best practices for training and meaningful community input.
The demilitarization of local police departments.

*Investing in programs that provide alternatives to incarceration, such as community-led restorative justice programs and community groups that educate people about their rights.

[branford]

10. Most of those suggestion have nothing to do with federal executive action.

The majority are exclusively the province of state and local government, and issues like greater discretion for police grants are largely the purview of Congress, and majority of whom strongly support the police status quo, including providing them with military hardware.

Change will require a great deal of effort aimed at individual states and cities as well as lobbying Congress, who will be controlled by Republicans come January. The people who largely need convincing are not the "young activists" referenced the cited article or even the president, but rather much of the largely white, middle class, voting public.

[Voice for Peace]

15. we better get started then.

[Kingofalldems]

13. So are you saying Loretta Lynch is in on this PR?

She is heading the investigation.

[former9thward]

14. The DOJ gets heat.

So they try and throw water on it. They know by the time they issue their report (usually a year or two later) everyone has moved on to different things.

[geomon666]

7. Empty gesture

Expect nothing.

[Ash_F]

8. Police leadership ban chokeholds, citing them as deadly

Officer uses a chokehold. It turns out deadly.

Police leadership says officer did nothing wrong.







They are not fooling anyone.

[littlewolf]

11. because it is so difficult to prove civil rights violation

I expect nothing to happen, however I can hope
that this guy will never work in law enforcement.
hopefully because the choke hold is against
policy and the fact that he used it, that fact
should be used against him being reinstated.

[blkmusclmachine]

12. No justice from the 1%

[librechik]

16. that'll teach those bullies a lesson

another weak endless investigation with a wristslap.