Erica Garner, activist and daughter of Eric Garner, has passed away
It’s sad news today. We’re devastated to report that social justice activist Erica Garner has died at the age of 27. After her father Eric Garner was killed in Staten Island by members of the New York Police Department in July of 2014, Erica was outspoken about the changes we need to make in our country.
Following the grand jury’s decision not to indict the policemen who killed her father, there were signs and protests all around New York and the rest of the country calling for change. Erica Garner staged many powerful protests, including a “die-in” at the very spot where her father was killed. She spent the last three years fighting for his life and memory.
Eric Garner’s death came at a time when many people were waking up about the realities of police brutality. Cops have killed innocent Black people in our country for decades. However, after the murders of Mike Brown and Eric Garner, something shifted. People started to pay attention. Everyone from the very famous to the protesters in the streets wore shirts and carried signs bearing the phrase “I can’t breathe,” which were Eric Garner’s last words.
Erica Garner suffered cardiac arrest on Christmas Eve and passed away on the morning of December 30th. Her family confirmed the tragic news on Twitter.
She passed away this morning. The reports are real. We didn't deserve her.
— officialERICA GARNER (@es_snipes) December 30, 2017
Erica Garner was a powerful force, and her memory will live on.
She transformed her grief over the loss of her father into something that changed the world.
"People ask, 'When will you stop marching? What do you want from marching?' He was my father," Garner said. "I will always march."
Rest in power, @es_snipes— Ohio Young Black Dem (@OhioYBD) December 30, 2017
Our dear sister, Erica Garner (@es_snipes) has passed away this morning. She was 27. Rest, queen.
— Free Black Man (@Delo_Taylor) December 30, 2017
It means something that Kalief Browder's mother, Venida Browder passed not long after he did. It means something that Erica Garner has passed after her father died.
Rest In Peace to Erica Garner. Rest In Peace to all.— Charlotte Abotsi (@CharlotteAbotsi) December 30, 2017
I’m full of rage. #EricaGarner died because we live in a country that has a health care system that neglects Black women.
— patrisse cullors (@OsopePatrisse) December 30, 2017
Erica Garner was a force. She is gone way, way too soon.
Rest in peace, Erica.
