In a now-deleted Instagram post, retired New York Police Department spokesman Michael DeBonis condemned the officers that killed Eric Garner with a chokehold, according to the New York Post.
In DeBonis’ post, he wrote that “it was a horrible injustice that is forever a part of our history,” what happened to Garner. Garner’s cries of “I can’t breathe” became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement, a rallying cry that has been renewed with the death of George Floyd, also at the hands of police officers.
“In writing this post, I’m fully aware that some of my cop friends may call me a traitor, a hypocrite or even un follow me. I’m ok with that because if you don’t agree with what I’m about to say then we definitely don’t see eye to eye when it comes to policing….” DeBonis wrote. “We killed Eric Garner….. His arrest was legal, the initial force used to stop him from resisting was fine, but in the end… WE PUNISHED HIM FOR RESISTING ARREST….”
Eric Garner was detained back in 2014 for selling untaxed cigarettes and was placed in a fatal chokehold by officer Daniel Pantaleo. His cries of “I can’t breathe” became a rallying cry at protests following his death, a rallying cry echoed at protests following the death of George Floyd, also at the hands of police officers.
“WE WATCHED HIM DIE…. WE DIDNT EVEN SIT HIM UP AND RENDER HIM BASIC AID,” DeBonis wrote.
“I’m a hypocrite for saying this now because I didn’t say it publicly then, but WE ALL need to hold ourselves accountable,” DeBonis recognizes.
The officer who administered the fatal chokehold was never charged even though Garner’s death was ruled a homicide and was not fired until last August.
DeBonis’s Instagram account has since been deleted.
