The widow of Eric Garner is grateful for the protesters who heckled New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio during the second night of this week’s Democratic primary debates.
While de Blasio was giving his opening remarks, protesters in the audience chanted “Fire Pantaleo,” referring to NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, who was involved in Garner’s death. Protesters also interpreted New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s opening statement shortly after de Blasio finished.
“And were you surprised when you heard protesters disrupt the debate about your [husband’s] case?” CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota asked Esaw Garner Snipes on Friday.
“No, because it needs to be brought up, you know? The people that were there that did it, I’m so thankful that they did it, you know? We need to call attention to all these police officers, and they need to be held accountable,” Garner Snipes said.
“The city needs to be held accountable for the police that they hire. And I was quite ecstatic when I saw it, and I’m not a political person. I didn’t get into politics until the murder of my husband. You know, that’s when I started to pay attention to the politics and voting and stuff like that,” she added.
[Read: NYPD suspends officer involved in death of Eric Garner after judge recommends firing]
Snipes also criticized de Blasio for exaggerating his connection to Garner’s family, saying he did not remember her name despite meeting her on several occasions.
