Shaun King wrote: “Our dear sister Erica Garner has just passed away. When you were her friend, you were her friend through all adversity. She was a fierce protector of her friends and family. A truth teller. As genuine and authentic of a soul you’ll ever encounter."
Erica Garner was placed in a medically induced coma after the heart attack. There was hope over the last few days that she would pull through, even after it was announced that she suffered major brain damage from lack of oxygen during the heart attack. As her condition worsened, an outpouring of support grew. Yesterday her grandmother Gwen Carr, Eric Garner's mother, sent out a message thanking everyone for support and she asked for continued prayers.
Ben Jealous posted a photo alongside Erica Garner. He tweeted, "Praying for a miracle. Our sister @es_snipes has not just fought for justice for her dad. She has fought for justice for all of us."
Erica Garner became a Black Lives Matter advocate and a voice for police accountability after the death of her father, Eric Garner in 2014. He died in Staten Island after he was forced into an illegal chokehold by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, who had a history of breaking rules, but is still on the force. Eric Garner's last words, "I can't breathe," became a rallying cry for activists, who chant these words to this day at protests against police killings of unarmed people of color here in New York and around the country. Erica Garner's mother Esaw Snipes said, "She never recovered from when her father died. She is in a better place."
In 2016, Erica Garner campaigned for Bernie Sanders for president. Sanders tweeted, "Though Erica didn't ask to be an activist, she responded to the personal tragedy of seeing her father die while being arrested in New York City by becoming a leading proponent for criminal justice reform and for an end to police brutality."
Kendrick Sampson wrote, "#RIP #EricaGarner, woman, mother, daughter, aunt, sister, activist, justice seeker, good human - No matter how tired, spiritually, mentally & physically, she continued to pursue justice for her father Eric Garner, who was ALSO taken from this world too early by the #NYPD."
The celebration of Erica Garner's life and a funeral service is on Monday, January 8th. It's at the First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, at 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. If you want more information, you can call 877 626-4651. The public viewing is at 4 pm, followed by her funeral from 5-7pm.
Follow on twitter @es_snipes.