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Family of Michael Brown Will Not Attend Weekend Rally for Eric Garner

By Nicholas Rizzi | August 20, 2014 7:39pm
 The family of Michael Brown, the unarmed man who was shot multiple times by police in Ferguson, Missouri, won't attend a rally on the one-month anniversary of Eric Garner's death on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014.
The family of Michael Brown, the unarmed man who was shot multiple times by police in Ferguson, Missouri, won't attend a rally on the one-month anniversary of Eric Garner's death on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014.
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Facebook/R.I.P Eric Garner

TOMPKINSVILLE — Contrary to several news reports, the parents of Michael Brown, the unarmed Missouri man shot by police, will not attend a Staten Island rally marking the one-month anniversary of Eric Garner's death, according to the National Action Network.

While NY1 and Politico reported that Brown's family would attend the Saturday rally for Garner, 43, in Tompkinsville organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton, a spokeswoman for Sharpton said only a "representative" from Brown's family would be there, but didn't know who it was yet. She said that Brown's parents wouldn't be flying from Ferguson, Missouri, to New York because they'll be setting up funeral arrangements for Brown.

The Saturday rally will start across from Tompkinsville Park where Garner died and move on to the 120th Precinct — where the officers who arrested Garner worked  — to commemorate the month anniversary of his death.

Originally, Sharpton planned to shut down the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and march across it, but changed plans after pressure from the governor, mayor and local politicians, Newsday reported.

Instead, Sharpton's National Action Network promised to caravan protesters from all over the city and bring them to the spot where Garner died, according to Newsday.

Garner died after he was put in a chokehold by police while being arrested for selling loosies in front of 206 Bay St., police said. His death was caught on video by Ramsey Orta, where Garner can be seen telling police "I can't breathe" at least 11 times as he's pinned to the ground by an officer.

The medical examiner later ruled Garner's death was a homicide by compression of his neck, with his previously diagnosed chronic asthma, obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease contributing. The officer who can apparently be seen on video putting Garner in the chokehold, Daniel Pantaleo, was later stripped of his gun and badge by police.

On Tuesday, Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan announced that he will be bringing the case to a grand jury next month.

“I have determined that it is appropriate to present evidence regarding the circumstances of his death to a Richmond County Grand Jury," Donovan said in a statement.

The unarmed Brown, 18, was shot at least six times by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, on Aug. 9, the New York Times reported. His death sparked clashes between police and protesters, and several journalists have been arrested covering the story, the Times reported.