New York, NY – It has been five years since the killing of Eric Garner at the direct hands of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo. And as has often been said, “justice delayed is justice denied.” Time and time again, justice has been delayed for the family that Garner has left behind. A Staten Island grand jury deliberated and failed to indict. The federal government has now failed to prosecute. We still await the results of an internal disciplinary hearing that has now concluded. Yet at no time throughout the last five years has the chief executive of the City of New York taken decisive action to bring some degree of justice to this family.

While we appreciate Mayor de Blasio’s willingness to meet with the family of Eric Garner—and to admit that mistakes have been made—the words offered are not enough. The mayor asserts that his administration is one that prioritizes trust between police and the communities they serve, and that every New Yorker should feel that their life is valued equally and fully. It becomes increasingly difficult to instill this trust, however, with each day that Officer Pantaleo and others involved in Garner’s death continue to draw a paycheck from the taxpayers of New York City.

It is the responsibility of the Mayor to ensure that his Police Commissioner exercises judgment that is reflective of the administration’s stated support for mutual trust between families and police.

No words will bring back the life that the Garner family lost; however, New York City has an opportunity to bring some degree of justice and to begin learning from the mistakes that have clearly led to the continued failure to do right by this family. We call on Mayor de Blasio to do everything in his power to end this delayed justice.