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Page 8 The Skanner January 3, 2018 News Erica Garner Remembered for her Relentless Campaign for Justice Activist Erica Garner, Daughter of Eric Garner, Died December 30 rica Garner, who became an activist for all who were wronged by the American justice system, died on Sat- urday, December 30. She was 27. A Twitter account associated with Erica Garner spoke of her compassion for humanity. CNN reported that her family is con- trolling the account. “When you report this you re- member she was human: mother, daughter, sister, aunt,” Garner’s account tweeted. “Her heart was bigger than the world. It really, re- ally was. She cared when most peo- ple wouldn’t have. She was good. She only pursued right, no matter what. No one gave her justice.” Garner famously and fiercely sought justice for her father, Eric Garner, who died from a police chokehold in Staten Island, New York on July 17, 2014. She led marches and demon- strations in New York City and other places, and even appeared on national television imploring the Department of Justice to re- view the circumstances that led up to her father’s death. Erica Garner’s mother, Esaw Snipes, said, “She was a fighter, she was a warrior and she lost the battle. She never recovered from when her father died,” according to CNN. Snipes said that Garner suf- fered from the effects of an en- larged heart after giving birth to her son three months ago, CNN reported. “I warned her everyday, you have to slow down, you have to re- lax and slow down,” Snipes said. According to Erica Garner’s E AP PHOTO/AMANDA MEYERS, FILE By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor In this April 27, 2015 file photo, Erica Garner, daughter of Eric Garner, poses for a photo as she attends the funeral for Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Garner, daughter of Black Lives Matter icon Eric Garner died in New York on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, after a weeklong hospital stay following a heart attack. Twitter account, the activist went into cardiac arrest and suffered major brain damage from a lack of oxygen. In a statement about Erica Gar- ner’s work as an advocate for criminal justice reform, Rev. Al Sharpton called her a warrior. Sharpton famously joined the Garner family in their push for justice against the New York City Police Department. “Many will say that Erica died of a heart attack, but that’s only par- tially true because her heart was already broken when she couldn’t get justice for her father,” Sharp- ton said. “Her heart was attacked by a system that would choke her dad and not hold accountable those that did it.” On a summer day in July 2014, officers approached Eric Garner whom they said was selling loose cigarettes near a store in Staten Island. A video released showed Officer Daniel Pantaleo grabbing Gar- ner from behind and applying a chokehold while other officers helped tackle Garner, whom fam- ily members said had asthma. On the video, in a plea that has resonated around the world, Gar- ner is heard saying, “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe,” repeatedly. He died shortly after the inci- dent. A grand jury failed to indict Pantaleo and, in 2015, the city set- tled a civil claim by Garner’s fam- ily against New York for nearly $6 million. Before and despite the settle- ment, Erica Garner pushed for justice and, with a national plat- form, her voice became as big as any in the fight for freedom, jus- tice and equality. “I had the honor of getting to know Erica and I was inspired by the commitment she made work- ing towards a more just world for her children and future genera- tions,” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sand- ers tweeted. “She was a fighter for justice and will not be forgotten.” Erica Garner supported Sand- ers’ 2016 campaign for president, even appearing in an ad for his campaign. “Though Erica didn’t ask to be an activist, she responded to the personal tragedy of seeing her father die while being arrested in New York City by becoming a leading proponent for criminal justice reform and for an end to police brutality,” Sanders said. The police “killed her unarmed, nonviolent father with an illegal chokehold and got off with nary a word,” activist Brittany Packnett wrote in a Twitter post. “Erica had to fight for justice. Then for her own life…she didn’t deserve this, her father didn’t deserve this. Her family doesn’t deserve this. All See GARNER on page 10 A career you can be proud of. Being a carpenter isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life. We’re devoted to strengthening the lives of our members with steady work, wealth and personal growth. We take a stand for our members and all workers. We work together to lead the building industry in safety, training and compensation. We create rich lives for our members and partners. To learn more about becoming a union carpenter, go to NWCarpenters.org. PORTLAND: 1636 East Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 | 503.261.1862 HEADQUARTERS: 25120 Pacific Hwy S, #200, Kent, WA 98032 | 253.954.8800 More than 20,000 members in the Pacific Northwest. Want to Keep Your 2018 New Year’s Resolution? Your Pet Can Help! Dr. Streeter and her dog Sheba By Jasmine Streeter, DVM Special to The Skanner News or many of us, living a healthier lifestyle and getting fit is at the top of our 2018 New Year’s resolution. According to Statistic Brain Research Institute, 41 percent of Ameri- cans made a resolution for 2017, but only 9 per- cent were successful in achieving their goals. This year to beat the odds, I encourage you to get a little help from one of your most loyal fans and cheerleaders: your pet. Walking 30 minutes a day with your pet, at least three times a week, is one of the easiest hab- its to incorporate into a new fitness regime. Low- er blood pressure, in- creased mental well-be- ing, and weight loss are well-established health benefits of walking. Some of you will prefer to immerse yourself in a forest walk (forest bath- ing), while others may prefer a busy downtown power stroll. Whatever decision you make, en- joy each step you take together. It will be for the better. Consider taking an active role in free play instead of throwing the ball from the lawn chair. Get a workout in by play- ing tug-of-war. Run some sprints as you race to capture the tennis ball or try playing tag for a total body workout. Break a sweat, wear yourself out, and then unwind with a cool glass of water. You’ll boost immunity, increase your stamina and feel more relaxed in the long run. Create a weekly feed- ing and bedtime sched- ule that includes you and your pet. Consis- tency and planning are extremely important in accomplishing goals. Create designated eating times and incorporate portion control while preparing meals to set F you and your pet up for success. There are count- less measuring cups, bowls, spoons and scales available for purchase to help you feed the ap- propriate amount. Count treats and go for health- ier options like veggies and fruits instead of foods high in carbohy- drates, fats and sugars. Make sure you and your furry ones head to bed early and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep for opti- mum productivity and alertness. “ Medi- tation, prayer and reflection are great habits to include your pet in this year Meditation, prayer and reflection are great hab- its to include your pet in this year. Create a re- flection space in the most peaceful part of your home and encourage your pets to sit down or lie quietly with you when in this area. Having your pets calming presence may be just what you need to help you clear the clutter of the day’s thoughts and focus on what really matters. Lastly, be confident and positive in your actions and thoughts. What you believe you achieve, and I know this year can be the year you change your life for the better. Grab some confidence from the happy panting or purring critter next to you and get going. I be- lieve in 2018 we can keep our resolution, I know the payout will be grand. I say to you, this year try it out with a leash or paw in one hand. Reach Dr. Jasmine at drjasmine@theskanner. com.
