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Eric Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, endorsed Hillary Clinton on Thursday
Garner was killed in 2014 during an altercation with police that was caught on video
Eric Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, endorsed Hillary Clinton on Thursday in an email to campaign supporters, labeling Clinton the “only candidate right now who’s talking about how we can be strategic in trying to” address police brutality.
Carr joins a host of mothers whose children were killed in incidents with law enforcement and are part of a broader campaign strategy to solidify African-American voters who are pushing for an end to police brutality.
Garner was killed in 2014 during an altercation with police that was caught on video and shows an officer grabbing the 350-pound man from behind and putting him in a chokehold. “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” Garner said repeatedly.
He later died at a local hospital. Garner was initially confronted for selling illegal cigarettes.
“Along with too many others, Eric’s death has forced our country to confront the effects of police brutality. We’ve got to do something about the violence in our communities – especially gun violence – and the racial and economic injustice that’s connected to it,” Carr write. “Hillary seems to be the only candidate right now who’s talking about how we can be strategic in trying to solve this problem. That’s why I’m endorsing her for president.”
In the email to supporters, Carr writes that backing Hillary Clinton is the best way to honor her son’s life.
“I think all of us need to make the time to be involved in this election. With all the violence and injustice that’s upon us today, we need a candidate who can move us forward – that’s Hillary,” she writes.
Carr joins Sybrina Fulton, mother of the late Trayvon Martin, and Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan Davis, who both endorsed Clinton earlier this year.