Eric Garner’s and Michael Brown's Family Respects Slain Officers More Than NYPD Who Turned Their Backs

Families of victims of police violence show compassion and grace while members of the NYPD exhibit hatred and disdain.

TOP: Emerald Garner, daughter of Eric Garner (center, dark jacket) shows class and
grace by visiting the sidewalk memorial of slain police officers. BOTTOM: NYPD
members grin while showing no compassion whatsoever for the slain Eric Garner or
his family.

By Katie Halper
UPDATE: I wrote this on Friday. Sunday, hundreds of NYPD, once again, disrespected the families of the slain officers by turning the funeral of officer Wenjian Liu into a political spectacle by turning their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio. Instead of honoring Liu, they chose to protest De Blasio. This time they also explicitly defied the wishes of Police New York Police Commissioner William Bratton, who stated in a memo “A hero’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance.”
Too many police leaders and politicians have responded to the recent tragic double murder of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos by blaming Barack Obama, Bill de Blasio, and peaceful police brutality protestors. At the same time, they refuse to acknowledge, let alone condemn, the police violence and brutality that have claimed the lives of countless people, including Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

This New Year’s, a good resolution for these professional pugilists would be to learn from the very families who have lost their loved ones to police brutality. The families of Michael Brown and, Eric Garner, in particular, would be good to study. While grieving their own losses, they have been able to extend condolences and sympathy to the grieving families of officers Lui and Ramos. And they have condemned violence in any form.

The family of Michael Brown released the following statement:

The family of Michael Brown condemns today’s senseless killing of two NYPD officers. We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot be tolerated. We must work together to bring peace to our communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers’ families during this incredibly difficult time.

The mother, wife and daughter of Eric Garner also offered their condolences and rejected violence.

[...]

Compare this compassionate response to the response of Darren Wilson. During an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who murdered Michael Brown, showed no remorse:

Stephanopoulos: Is there anything you could have done differently that would have prevented that killing from taking place?

Wilson: No.

Stephanopoulos: Nothing?

Wilson: No…

Officer Darren Wilson exhibits no remorse whatsover for killing Michael Brown

Read More