On one of the windiest and coldest mornings in recent weeks only a small number of demonstrators showed up, and a good amount of mainstream media, at the Supreme Court house at 18 Richmond Terrace directly across from the St George Staten Island ferry terminal. The demonstrators are demanding Eric Gardner Grand Jury transparency and the public release of all records from the proceedings.
According to one demonstrator who spoke to the Press prior to the hearing, Bill Dobbs, “This is a very important hearing for a very important matter. We demand the records from the Grand Jury for the Eric Garner case be released”. WHY? Millions of people saw that video, know that there were no indictments, and wonder, What did the Grand Jury do and How did it do it?”
Bill was asked by a member of the Press, “Grand Jury proceeding are traditionally secret, why the exception in this case?” Bill Dobbs’ response, “The person in question here is no longer alive, if you look at the law and look at what lawyers are saying about this, the interest of the Public is a huge factor”.
Bill went on to say, “Missouri, almost everything has been released in Missouri and it’s added enormously to the understanding of this issue which swirls all around race & police. You gotta let the truth out and let the sun shine in. We have 4 separate parties, the NYCLU, Legal Aid Society, the Public Advocate Letitia James & the NY Post asking for this to be released”.
Other speakers also addressed the crowd:
- Rubin Mendez, addressed the press next, “The people want to know why the Grand Jury failed to indict Daniel Pantaleo who obviously caused the death of Eric Garner. This is a connection to something much larger”.
- Matthew Brinckerhoff spoke next, the Public Advocate for Letitia James, one of the Petitioners. “The next date has been set for Jan 29th at 10 am. All of us have seen the video tape, all of us wants to know more and the Public Advocate is entitled to know more of exactly what went on in that Grand Jury Proceeding. And we intend to try to get that material”.
- After the hearing, which totaled approximately 15 mins, lawyer Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of New York Civil Liberties Union, one of the 4 entities who has filed lawsuits and petitions to open up the proceedings addressed the Press’s role in the case.
Eric Garner’s mother spoke briefly, after being asked by the press what she would like to see come out of the Grand Jury. She simply responded, “I’d like transparency to see what actually happened or, why my son, why they didn’t have a true bill”.
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