Eric Garner died in an altercation with police on Staten Island, New York, while they were attempting to arrest him for the alleged sale of untaxed cigarettes. The encounter was sparked by a complaint from a business owner regarding Garner's activities. Officers Daniel Pantaleo and others approached Garner, leading to a confrontation. Pantaleo applied a chokehold, which is a prohibited maneuver within the New York Police Department (NYPD) guidelines. Despite Garner's protests and repeated statements of 'I can't breathe', the officers continued to restrain him. The incident was recorded by a bystander, and the video quickly circulated, leading to widespread public outrage.The emergency responders arrived and attempted to administer first aid, but unfortunately, Garner was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. The video footage of the event and Garner's pleas highlighted critical issues surrounding police brutality and the treatment of African Americans by law enforcement. The incident sparked protests across the nation, particularly within the Black Lives Matter movement, which brought attention to systemic racism and the need for police reform.