Mrs. Gwen Carr Says Release of Some Records is a Step in the Right Direction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 20, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Yul-san Liem, press@justicecommittee.org
Today, Mrs. Gwen Carr, organizers from the Justice Committee and Communities United for Police Reform, their attorney’s Gideon Oliver, Law Office of Gideon Oliver, Jenvine Wong of Legal Aid Society, and other supporters attended a court conference for Mrs. Carr’s FOIL lawsuit demanding full access to NYPD and Civilian Complaint Review Board records regarding the murder of Eric Garner and the investigation and cover-up that followed.
Following the court proceedings in front of Judge Erika Edwards (who also presided over the Carr v De Blasio Judicial Inquiry), the Justice Committee released the following statement from Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner:
GWEN CARR STATEMENT:
Today’s court date was a small step in the right direction. Judge Edwards ruled that the NYPD must give me access to the IAB records of Officers Pantaleo, Damico, Furlani and Ramos, which is my right since the repeal of the Police Secrecy Law, 50a. This, however, is only one part of the full range of records - including emails and unredacted files - that I have been calling for through this FOIL. It has been three and a half years since we began this court process and eight years since my son, Eric Garner, was brutally murdered. No family should have to fight this long just to get answers.
Why did the NYPD refuse to discipline Lt. Christopher Bannon for racially profiling and targeting Eric? Why has the NYPD chosen to continue to employ an officer that lies and trumps up felony charges like Officer Justin Damico did. Bannon’s racism and Damico’s lies led to the assault and murder of my son.
I’m calling on Mayor Adams to release all records related to my son’s murder and fire Lt. Bannon, Officer Damico and all other NYPD personnel and City officials who were involved in killing my son and the subsequent cover-up.
BACKGROUND: In August 2019, Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, Justice Committee, and Communities United for Police Reform filed a FOIL request for NYPD and Civilian Complaint Review Board records related to the NYPD murder of Eric Garner and the investigation and cover-up that followed. Both agencies gave incomplete responses and the NYPD’s response, in particular, is filled with holes and unnecessary redactions. Mrs. Carr’s Article 78 lawsuit, for which the court heard oral arguments today, calls for a comprehensive response from both the NYPD and the CCRB to the original FOIL request. The records will help shed light on all of the NYPD officers and City officials involved in Eric Garner’s murder and the subsequent cover-up, as well the culture and practices of the NYPD that led to Eric' death. The next court date for this suit has been set for February 23, 2023, 11:30am.
