Erica Garner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erica Garner
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Garner at a protest in 2016
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| Born | May 29, 1990 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 30, 2017 (aged 27) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Cardiac arrest |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Years active | 2014–2017 |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Gwen Carr (grandmother) |
Erica Garner-Snipes (born May 29, 1990 – died December 30, 2017) was an American activist. She worked to change how police use force, especially during arrests. Erica became an activist after her father, Eric Garner, died in 2014. A New York City police officer used a dangerous hold called a chokehold on him during an arrest.
Early Life
Erica Garner was born on May 29, 1990, in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were Esaw Garner Snipes and Eric Garner. She was the oldest of their four children. Her father, Eric, helped a lot with raising the children because of his health problems.
When Erica was fourteen, she had a difficult relationship with her mother. Because of this, she went to live in foster care with the Goode family in Far Rockaway, Queens. Even after she grew up, Erica stayed close with the Goode family.
Becoming an Activist
Erica Garner started her activism in 2014. This was after her father died during an attempt by police to arrest him. He was accused of selling cigarettes without paying taxes on them. Erica continued to speak out against the police until her death.
- Marches and Protests: Starting a month after her father's death, Erica led marches twice a week for a year. These marches went to the place where her father died. The media called these events "die-ins." She also joined Black Lives Matter demonstrations and other protest events.
- Garner Way Foundation: Erica started a group called the Garner Way Foundation. Its goal is to help communities learn about social justice. This includes political awareness, music, arts, and activism.
- Seeking Justice: Erica also worked to make the official records of the investigation into her father's death public. She believed her father's death was more about police doing wrong than about race. In 2017, she turned down a meeting with the U.S. Justice Department. They wanted to talk about what happened to her father.
- Political Support: During the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Erica supported Bernie Sanders. She appeared in an advertisement for him and joined him during his campaign.
Personal Life and Death
Erica Garner had two children. Her son, Eric, was named after her father. Shortly after Eric was born in August 2017, Erica had a heart attack. Doctors later found that her heart was enlarged.
On December 23, 2017, she had a second heart attack. After this, she fell into a coma. She had serious brain damage. Erica died on December 30, 2017, at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn. Her family and foster family were with her.
Many people shared their thoughts after her death:
- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city would "miss her unshakable sense of justice and passion for humanity." Erica had often disagreed with Mayor de Blasio during her life.
- The New York Civil Liberties Union said Erica "showed incredible courage and remarkable resolve." They added that she "bravely transformed her unspeakable personal pain into political power."
- The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) also praised her leadership and strength.
- Fellow activist DeRay Mckesson said, "Erica took the truth with her everywhere she went, even if that truth made people uncomfortable."
Images for kids
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Garner at a protest in 2016
See also
In Spanish: Erica Garner para niños
