Mayor Bill de Blasio had just got done telling the ladies of "The View" how much "safer" New York City has become under his watch when the family of Eric Garner began to hold a press conference on the actions of the NYPD. Garner, an African-American man, was killed by police officer Daniel Pantaleo when he placed him in a chokehold in 2014. To the dismay of the family and many New Yorkers, de Blasio and Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill have not fired that cop.
"The View's" Twitter page shared the live coverage of the presser.
"We've waited five years," Garner's daughter Emerald Garner said on Friday during the presser with Rev. Al Sharpton. "Commissioner O'Neill, fire Pantaleo. That's all we're asking."
LIVE: Family of Eric Garner holds press conference on NYPD departmental judge's recommendation on officer Daniel Pantaleo. https://t.co/HvPfEsAfrH
— ABC News (@ABC) August 2, 2019
Protesters heckled de Blasio at Wednesday night's Democratic presidential debate for leaving Pantaleo on the force. Before the Garners' press conference, de Blasio said during his "View" appearance, which was taped on Thursday, that he and his administration had successfully brought the police and the community "together" thanks, in part, to his decision to end stop-and-frisk.
2020 candidate New York Mayor @BilldeBlasio on his 42% approval rating in his city despite accomplishments: "I represent 8.6 million highly-opinionated people... and it's probably a great thing to represent a place that puts you through your paces." https://t.co/Z2yokBFMIF pic.twitter.com/DryhMdY208
— The View (@TheView) August 2, 2019