Quote:Too hard for me to believe.. If you can talk, you can breathe.. 

 

What I think happened is that the weight of 4 officers on his back, combined with his health issues caused his death. But I agree that the choke hold should have never been used and they need to outlaw it.. 

 

I agree completely. But the man was pleading and gasping for air until he lost consciousness. Obviously he could breathe while talking….. until he couldn't anymore. 

 

He wasn't a violent criminal and nothing about the situation called for a chokehold. 

 

(In case it wasn't mentioned - he was selling cigarettes illegally on the street. Which is very common in NYC.  A pack is $12 or more due to state and city taxes. People buy them in Jersey are elsewhere and sell them for $8 on the street. Everytime I walk to the grocery market I pass two people muttering "Newports, Marlboro's ..eight dollars."  These people don't pose a threat and are as common as pigeons in the less wealthy areas of all boroughs.) 

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