New York, NY – As the family of Eric Garner endures the second week of the NYPD trial of Officer Daniel Pantaleo, the Members of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus speak collectively to offer continued support to the entire Garner family. It is disheartening and unacceptable that after five years, our system of government accountability is only just now nearing some degree of justice for the killing of Mr. Garner.

What we know in this case is that police action resulted in the unnecessary killing of an unarmed father, husband, and friend to many. Garner’s death is one of many such instances that the Caucus has unfortunately been compelled to follow over the years, as police and community tensions reach boiling points all across the country. But it is one that has served to encourage legislative action. Because of the pain endured by the Garner family, our Caucus has been motivated to advocate for and advance policies that improve police accountability and openness, support the use of body-worn cameras, fund community policing efforts, and establish a special prosecutor for cases involving the killing of an unarmed resident by an officer.

While these actions will not return Eric Garner to his family, nor erase the stress and added sorrow of losing his daughter three years later, we offer to the Garner family that, as legislators in the State of New York, we will continue to fight for the kind of policies that would have greatly reduced the likelihood of their painful loss.

As we move towards the eventual result of an administrative process that will hopefully provide some semblance of justice to this family, the Caucus stands firmly in their support for and offered condolences to the Garner family; and remain committed to our role in creating a more just society for all New Yorkers.