I'm sorry she's dead at such a young age, and I pray that the family finds some peace.
In her life, Erica Garner was, IMO, rather misguided, and some of that misguiding lies at the feet of her father, who had an extensive criminal record, and was resisting a lawful arrest at the time he was placed in a controversial chokehold by NYPD. (The chokehold is not "illegal", but it is prohibited by NYPD policy; that distinction is a fact that cries out for attention.) A grand jury consisting of 3 whites and 9 minority members declined to indict the officers involved in the incident that hastened Mr. Garner's demise.
Mr. Garner was placed in a chokehold because he chose to resist a lawful arrest. This fact cries out for recognition as well. The advocacy of Erica Garner is an advocacy for the right of folks to resist arrest without consequence, simply because THEY (the persons being arrested) assert that it is unjust. I would honestly ask folks here sympathetic to Ms. Garner's complaints and advocacy what the ramifications are for public safety if folks being placed under arrest have the right to physically resist without police redoubling their efforts to subdue the suspect.
What the appropriate enforcement for selling "loosies" (not the only offense Mr. Garner was ever charged with; he had 30 prior arrests) is a legitimate issue, the right to resist a lawful arrest is not. While criminal defendants have the right presumption of innocence in Court, Mr. Garner has a history of convictions. People make mistakes, but one of the mistakes Mr. Garner (IMO) repeatedly made is the refusal to take personal responsibility for obeying the laws of his state and city.
Ms. Garner, in her lifetime, was blind to that side of the coin. Her advocacy was one-sided, and reflected no concern for folks who did obey the law and do deserve protection from those who would break it. Yes, Ms. Garner, and BLM, raise legitimate issues for discussion by reasonable people. But Ms. Garner, in her lifetime, was not one of those reasonable people whose thoughts and actions could have led to a solution of even the legitimate issues she raised (let alone the apologia for folks who want the right to resist arrest).
Her death is a personal tragedy for her family. I'll leave it at that.
Thanks for bringing the sermon down from the mountaintop. Now shove it.
