Eric Garner's haunting last words - CNN

Eric Garner: The haunting last words of a dying man

By Susanna Capelouto, CNN

Updated 0031 GMT (0831 HKT) December 9, 2014

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, center, warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, December 9, in Los Angeles. The team wore "I Can't Breathe" shirts during warm-ups in support of the family of Eric Garner. Since a grand jury declined to indict a New York police officer in the death of Garner, demonstrators across the country have taken to the streets to express their outrage. Garner, a 43-year-old asthmatic, died in July after he was put in a chokehold by the officer, Daniel Pantaleo.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, center, warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, December 9, in Los Angeles. The team wore "I Can't Breathe" shirts during warm-ups in support of the family of Eric Garner. Since a grand jury declined to indict a New York police officer in the death of Garner, demonstrators across the country have taken to the streets to express their outrage. Garner, a 43-year-old asthmatic, died in July after he was put in a chokehold by the officer, Daniel Pantaleo.
Hide Caption
1 of 31
Protesters gather in front of the Barclays Center during an NBA game in New York on Monday, December 8.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters gather in front of the Barclays Center during an NBA game in New York on Monday, December 8.
Hide Caption
2 of 31
Police clash with demonstrators at the entrance of a Target near the Barclays Center on December 8.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police clash with demonstrators at the entrance of a Target near the Barclays Center on December 8.
Hide Caption
3 of 31
Seven-year-old Elijah Owens, left, stands by people participating in a "die-in" demonstration outside the Philadelphia Eagles' stadium in Philadelphia on Sunday, December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Seven-year-old Elijah Owens, left, stands by people participating in a "die-in" demonstration outside the Philadelphia Eagles' stadium in Philadelphia on Sunday, December 7.
Hide Caption
4 of 31
People protest in the streets of Chicago on December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
People protest in the streets of Chicago on December 7.
Hide Caption
5 of 31
Demonstrators retreat in Berkeley, California, after police deploy tear gas during a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/07/justice/protests-grand-jury-chokehold/index.html">protest that turned violent</a> before dawn on December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators retreat in Berkeley, California, after police deploy tear gas during a protest that turned violent before dawn on December 7.
Hide Caption
6 of 31
A police officer in Berkeley clashes with a protester on December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A police officer in Berkeley clashes with a protester on December 7.
Hide Caption
7 of 31
A police officer raises a shotgun toward the crowd in Berkeley on Saturday, December 6.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A police officer raises a shotgun toward the crowd in Berkeley on Saturday, December 6.
Hide Caption
8 of 31
People in Los Angeles lie down during a "die-in" on Hollywood Boulevard on December 6.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
People in Los Angeles lie down during a "die-in" on Hollywood Boulevard on December 6.
Hide Caption
9 of 31
Police stand guard as protesters participate in a "die-in" December 6 at Grand Central Station in New York.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police stand guard as protesters participate in a "die-in" December 6 at Grand Central Station in New York.
Hide Caption
10 of 31
Protesters shut down all eastbound and westbound lanes on Interstate 195, which links Miami Beach to the mainland, on Friday, December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters shut down all eastbound and westbound lanes on Interstate 195, which links Miami Beach to the mainland, on Friday, December 5.
Hide Caption
11 of 31
Demonstrators march through the Loop in Chicago on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators march through the Loop in Chicago on December 5.
Hide Caption
12 of 31
Protesters block an intersection in downtown Washington on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters block an intersection in downtown Washington on December 5.
Hide Caption
13 of 31
Demonstrators march through a Macy's in Manhattan before staging a "die-in" at the iconic department store on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators march through a Macy's in Manhattan before staging a "die-in" at the iconic department store on December 5.
Hide Caption
14 of 31
Police make an arrest as protesters march through Manhattan early on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police make an arrest as protesters march through Manhattan early on December 5.
Hide Caption
15 of 31
Police officers form a line with demonstrations under way in Oakland, California, on Thursday, December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police officers form a line with demonstrations under way in Oakland, California, on Thursday, December 4.
Hide Caption
16 of 31
A demonstrator gets arrested during a protest in New York on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A demonstrator gets arrested during a protest in New York on December 4.
Hide Caption
17 of 31
Police detain a protester in New York on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police detain a protester in New York on December 4.
Hide Caption
18 of 31
Demonstrators gather in New York's Foley Square on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators gather in New York's Foley Square on December 4.
Hide Caption
19 of 31
Police officers in New York staff a barricade at a Brooklyn Bridge exit ramp on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police officers in New York staff a barricade at a Brooklyn Bridge exit ramp on December 4.
Hide Caption
20 of 31
Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge on December 4.
Hide Caption
21 of 31
"Black Lives Matter" is written across the cheek of Samaria Muhammad as she chants with fellow protesters in Atlanta on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
"Black Lives Matter" is written across the cheek of Samaria Muhammad as she chants with fellow protesters in Atlanta on December 4.
Hide Caption
22 of 31
Demonstrators block the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel in New York on Wednesday, December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators block the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel in New York on Wednesday, December 3.
Hide Caption
23 of 31
Protesters lie down in Grand Central Station on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters lie down in Grand Central Station on December 3.
Hide Caption
24 of 31
A demonstrator cries at a protest in Philadelphia on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A demonstrator cries at a protest in Philadelphia on December 3.
Hide Caption
25 of 31
Demonstrators block traffic on Interstate 395 in Washington on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators block traffic on Interstate 395 in Washington on December 3.
Hide Caption
26 of 31
A woman speaks during a demonstration in Oakland on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A woman speaks during a demonstration in Oakland on December 3.
Hide Caption
27 of 31
Police officers stand guard in New York's Times Square on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police officers stand guard in New York's Times Square on December 3.
Hide Caption
28 of 31
Protesters rally near Rockefeller Center during a ceremony to light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters rally near Rockefeller Center during a ceremony to light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York.
Hide Caption
29 of 31
Protesters face off with police in Oakland.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters face off with police in Oakland.
Hide Caption
30 of 31
Demonstrators lie in the streets of St. Louis on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators lie in the streets of St. Louis on December 3.
Hide Caption
31 of 31
lakers garner 120903 eric garner protests 1208 RESTRICTED04 eric garner protests 120802 garner 120804 garner 120701 garner 120702 garner 120703 garner 120705 garner protests 120604 garner 120603 garner 120602 garner 120601 garner 120601 garner protests ny 120501 garner 120502 garner 120503 garner 120504 garner 120501 eric garner 120402 eric garner 120403 eric garner 120404 eric garner 120402 garner 120403 garner 120404 garner 120405 garner 120406 garner 120407 garner 120408 garner 120401 garner 120409 garner 1204

Story highlights

  • "I can't breathe," has become a new slogan in protests against police brutality
  • Eric Garner said it eight times while being restrained by police
  • He had asked them to leave him alone before being wrestled to the ground
  • A grand jury declined to indict a police officer is his death
"I can't breathe" has become a new slogan in protests against alleged police brutality after a grand jury declined to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner.
Garner said it eight times while restrained on the ground by several officers. Police say Garner resisted arrest and video shows him asking police not to harass or touch him after they confronted him on a sidewalk.
Here's a transcript of his last words:
"Get away [garbled] ... for what? Every time you see me, you want to mess with me. I'm tired of it. It stops today. Why would you...? Everyone standing here will tell you I didn't do nothing. I did not sell nothing. Because every time you see me, you want to harass me. You want to stop me (garbled) Selling cigarettes. I'm minding my business, officer, I'm minding my business. Please just leave me alone. I told you the last time, please just leave me alone. please please, don't touch me. Do not touch me."
Video of the arrest shows four officers wrestling Garner to the ground and restraining him.
" I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe," he said, as officers restrained him.
Videos document Garner's last moments