That phrase - "I can't breathe" - has become a rallying cry against
police abuse in NYC. I'm sure you've seen the
story on the news. Eric
Garner was simply engaging in a common poverty-economy practice --
selling single cigarettes to earn a few bucks -- when the police
attacked him and caused his death.
I hope you've seen
the video. You can clearly hear Mr. Garner saying, "I can't breathe! I
can't breathe!" as the police continue to hold him by his neck and put
pressure on his chest. They killed him. There's no two ways about it.
And for what? For selling loose cigarettes, as thousands of people do
every day in NYC? That's a crime that deserves the death penalty?
I
thought about Eric Garner yesterday as I suffered my second attack of
being unable to breathe. It's only happened twice to me and I don't know
what causes it. It's
terrifying. It's as if my lungs cannot use
the air, as if there's no oxygen in it. And it makes me feel desperate
and wonder if I'm going to die.
My second attack
happened outside a medical clinic, as I was on my way to an allergy
doctor to find out why this happens to me. And as soon as someone
realized I couldn't breathe, a "code yellow" was called and five medical
professionals rushed toward me with a wheelchair, oxygen, etc. They put
me on a machine to help me breathe and within an hour I felt fine.
But
all the while, I heard Eric Garner's voice saying, "I can't breathe! I
can't breathe!" I couldn't help but contrast the comforting response of
the people around me, with the callous and inhumane actions of the
police and EMS staff who surrounded Mr. Garner and
simply watched him die.
Eric
Garner is black and I'm white. And he was unlucky enough to have this
happen while he was surrounded by NYPD officers who didn't give a damn
whether he lived or died. They're not only the police -- they're the new
militarized version of the police that has cropped up in NYC
since 9/11. These officers see civilians as the enemy. And apparently
you don't help the enemy, especially if he has brown skin.
It's
so wrong. I'm fine today and Eric Garner is dead. Why? And if it's just
his race, then we are not living in a civilized country. We're all
supposed to be equal here. Where were the caregivers to help this man?
Why did EMS workers not intercede when they heard his cries for help?
And why did the officers not lift themselves off him when they heard he
was having trouble breathing?
Why?
Something has to change. We
are
all equal. It's just that some monsters don't recognize this. I don't
want people like that to be handed a badge or a medical license. I hope
many officers go to prison for a good, long time for what they
did to this man.
And
by the way, he was a good man. Everyone says he was a gentle giant who
would help anyone with anything. All you had to do was ask. The police
murdered a teddy bear, not a criminal. And they should pay for this.
