All Democratic 2020 Frontrunners But Biden Denounce DOJ for Failing to Hold Officer Accountable In Eric Garners Death by Julia Conley!
(2019-07-16 at 19:39:31 )

All Democratic 2020 Frontrunners But Biden Denounce DOJ for Failing to Hold Officer Accountable In Eric Garners Death by Julia Conley

Sen. Kamala Harris called the decision "a miscarriage of justice" while Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote that the Garner family "has suffered too much".

With the exception of Joe Biden, as of this writing on Tuesday all of the 2020 Democratic frontrunners had expressed support for Eric Garners family and outrage over the Trump administrations decision not to prosecute the New York police officer accused of killing him in 2014.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who worked with Mr. Garners daughter Erica on issues of social justice and police accountability before Ms Garners death in 2017, was the first major primary candidate to speak out about the Department of Justices announcement.

The decision, reportedly finalized by Attorney General William Barr, was "not just," tweeted Mr. Sanders, "and we will not have real justice for black United States of Americans until there is serious reform of our racist criminal justice system."

The Garner family has suffered too much. This decision pains me. It is not just, and we will not have real justice for black Americans until there is serious reform of our racist criminal justice system. -Bernie Sanders July 16, 2019

The senator was followed by his colleagues, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in condemning the administrations decision not to charge Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who is accused of putting Mr. Garner in a fatal chokehold five years ago and who still serves in the NYPD.

This is a miscarriage of justice. Our criminal justice system should be rooted in accountability. My heart breaks for the Garner family.- Kamala Harris July 16, 2019

This is an injustice. We have a responsibility to protect our citizens-and to hold police accountable when they fail. No one is safe in a country with a broken criminal justice system. My heart goes out to Mr. Eric Garners family today. - Elizabeth Warren July 16, 2019

Sen. Cory Booker, Gov. Jay Inslee, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand were among the candidates who issued their own statements decrying what they called "unjust" and "an outrage."

Joe Biden has been considered a frontrunner since before he announced his candidacy in April, and is currently polling between 21 and 32 percent, according to the most recent surveys.

The former vice president has faced criticism during the campaign regarding his record on racial justice, including his history of opposing school busing to integrate schools in the 1970s and 1980s, with Ms Harris telling him she had been personally affected by school segregation as a child.

Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.