Mass protests denounce the killing of Eric Garner

SAN FRANCISCO – From coast to coast, protesters once again took to the streets to demand justice for another unarmed person of color who died at the hands of a police officer.

In New York, protesters blocked a highway and marched through Times Square.

In San Francisco, protesters blocked off one of the busiest streets in the city.

The protest was sparked by a decision of a grand jury in New York not to charge a police officer who administered a chokehold on an unarmed black man.

Last July, police confronted Eric Garner on suspicion of selling cigarettes illegally. Garner raised his hands in the air, and told officers not to touch him. A bystander witness video shows an officer grab Garner in a choke hold stance, and then Garner was heard screaming that he couldn’t breathe.

Garner was later pronounced dead and the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.

“This is outrageous,” said one of Garner’s friends. “This is an outrage. I am very upset about this verdict. I’m standing here because Eric Garner was my friend. And it was over a lousy cigarette. They killed the man.”

It’s been barely a week when people across the country were devastated by a grand jury decision not to charge a white officer – Darren Wilson – for shooting unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

As people continue to mobilize and cry for justice against these so-called police brutalities, Filipinos in the Bay Area have mixed reactions.

“It’s December today, people are supposed to be shopping,” said Josie, who works along Market St. “This is very scary for us, especially customers.”

“Breaking store windows, I don’t think that’s advisable,” said Tony Cantor. “It’s not good. They can protest as long as it’s peaceful.”

“Doing this peacefully might go ignored, while I do think violence like hurting innocent people and destroying establishments that have nothing to do with what’s happening – I don’t think that’s the way to go,” said Rachel, who was shopping at the time of the protest in San Francisco, “but I guess some people have to gain attention.”

President Barack Obama has promised to make changes to the criminal justice system after the events in Ferguson and New York.

“I’m not interested in talk, I’m interested in action, and I am absolutely committed as President of the United States to making sure that we have a country in which everybody believes in the core principle that we are equal under the law,” said Obama.

With the mass protests and growing distrust of law enforcement in minority communities, the President launched on Monday his new 21^st Century Policing Task Force, to start rebuilding trust in the justice system. One of the most talked about suggestions was body-worn cameras on law enforcement officers.