2020 Democrats react to NYPD firing of officer in Garner case: 'Finally'

2020 Democrats react to NYPD firing of officer in Garner case: 'Finally'

Click:pet wedding cake topper

Democratic presidential candidates on Monday tweeted support for the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) decision to fire the officer accused of killing Eric Garner with a chokehold. 

Many of the candidates had called for the firing of Officer Daniel Pantaleo after a police administrative judge recommended his termination earlier this month. Federal prosecutors announced in July that they would not be charging him for Garner’s death.

ADVERTISEMENTOn Monday, the White House hopefuls joined in saying the firing in the 2014 death of the unarmed black man who was selling loose cigarettes came five years too late.

New York Sen. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE (D), for example, tweeted “finally,” as the news broke of Pantaleo’s firing.

“Five years too late,” former Texas Rep. Beto O’RourkeBeto O’RourkeBiden will help close out Texas Democrats’ virtual convention: report O’Rourke on Texas reopening: ‘Dangerous, dumb and weak’ Parties gear up for battle over Texas state House MORE tweeted.

“Mixed emotions today. Glad to see some justice in this case, but ashamed that it took five years to get there,” said Tom SteyerTom SteyerBloomberg wages war on COVID-19, but will he abandon his war on coal? Overnight Energy: 600K clean energy jobs lost during pandemic, report finds | Democrats target diseases spread by wildlife | Energy Dept. to buy 1M barrels of oil Ocasio-Cortez, Schiff team up to boost youth voter turnout MORE.

“It took you five years to figure that out?” Massachusetts Rep. Seth MoultonSeth MoultonEx-CBO director calls for more than trillion in coronavirus stimulus spending Overnight Defense: Trump’s move to use military in US sparks backlash | Defense officials take heat | Air Force head calls Floyd’s death ‘a national tragedy’ Democrats blast Trump’s use of military against protests MORE asked.

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) praised the firing, and pushed for further changes to bring justice to other victims’ families. 

“This is the right decision, but we are still a very long way from achieving justice for Eric Garner’s family and countless others who have lost loved ones to police violence. We must fundamentally transform our criminal justice system at every level,” Sanders tweeted.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, who has proposed a database to track decertified officers, said steps should be taken to prevent other department from hiring Pantaleo.

“He should now be held accountable under the law,” Castro tweeted.

Leave a Comment