NAACP Condemn the Use of the Excessive Force Tactics that Led to the Death of Eric Garner

WHEREAS, on Thursday, July 17, 2014, Eric Garner, an African American male was in a place where he had a lawful right to be on the streets of Staten Island, New York; and

WHEREAS, Eric Garner was not suspected of being engaged in felonious or violent criminal behavior, and was not posing a threat to himself, police officers or anyone else; and was not in possession of any deadly weapons; and

WHEREAS, Eric Garner was approached by New York City Police Officers, and was physically wrestled to the ground by the officers with one officer using an illegal and outlawed choke hold; and

WHEREAS, Eric Garner eventually died during the ensuing restraint by numerous officers; and

WHEREAS, the choke hold has been outlawed for decades as a use of restraint by law enforcement officers from a number of states and is not taught nor trained as a means of restraint in police training academies; and

WHEREAS, the police killing of unarmed African American males and females have reached epidemic proportions in America, for example the state of Delaware is reviewing the killing of nine unarmed African Americans and Hispanics and the state of Connecticut is reviewing the police killing of three unarmed African Americans which is only reflective of the nationwide epidemic.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP condemn the use of the excessive force tactics that led to the death of Eric Garner; and often has lead to the deaths of other persons of color throughout the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP will use all tools available in its advocacy arsenal including working with its local branches, state conferences, Legal Department and Washington Bureau to bring about justice in cases involving killings of unarmed Persons of Color by law enforcement officials in the United States of America; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP will advocate that the Justice Department aggressively prosecute police officers involved with the killing of unarmed People of Color, and request that they work toward the prevention of killings by the police of innocent Men and Women of Color; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP calls for enactment of the federal Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, which mandates training and accountability of law enforcement officials in the unlawful use of deadly force.