12/5/2014
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Calling for federal prosecution of cases nationwide involving alleged police killings, Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders slammed District Attorney Daniel Donovan and also the Staten Island special grand jury that declined to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner.
The leaders cited the handling of cases by local prosecutors and courts in the Garner death, the fatal shooting of a teen in Ferguson Mo., and other alleged fatalities at the hands of police as they urged a federal takeover of such prosecutions.
Sharpton's National Action Network is one of about 25 groups that plan to drive their message home with a march in Washington D.C. on Sept. 13.
"We want the Justice Department and the federal government to deal with the fact that the grand jury system at the state level is broken and seems to lack the capacity to deal with police when you are dealing with questions of criminality and killings," Sharpton said in a news conference at the National Action Network in Harlem.
Referring to the fatal Garner altercation with Pantaleo and other officers on July 17 in Tompkinsville that was captured on cell phone, Sharpton said, "even with a video tape you cannot seem to achieve a standard of probable cause" with state grand juries.
"We believe these state grand juries have forfeited their right and ability to bring about justice in police cases," said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.
"This is a moment where our consciousness is shocked," Morial said of the Garner case. "Yesterday the decision by the Staten Island grand jury defied common sense."
Sharpton said there has been "a higher ability to deal with these cases at the federal level than the state level" regarding allegations of serious crimes against citizens by police officers.
Sharpton said part of the problem is that local prosecutors are "conflicted when dealing with police."
Asking that these cases bypass state courts and go directly to the federal courts, Sharpton suggested that the Justice Department have an office with special prosecutors who would immediately step in when these alleged crimes occur.
Loretta E. Lynch, the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney who's been nominated to replace Attorney General Eric Holder, has pledged a "fair and thorough" civil rights investigation into the death of Garner.
Holder announced on Wednesday that the Justice Department will launch a federal investigation into Garner's death.
Morial criticized Donovan for applying to a judge for permission disclose information about the grand jury proceedings. Morial maintained that this is rarely done and suggested that in this case it was proffered because Pantaleo is a police officer.
"In my view these actions border on prosecutorial malpractice," Morial said.
Meanwhile, a Staten Island judge has ordered limited release of information about the special grand jury in the Garner case based on a request from Donovan.
Sharpton took Donovan to task for giving other officers involved in the Garner altercation immunity from prosecution. "I believe there was probable cause for Pantaleo and other officers to face trial," Sharpton said.
Donvan said through a spokesman that his only statement was released on Wednesday.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Calling for federal prosecution of cases nationwide involving alleged police killings, Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders slammed District Attorney Daniel Donovan and also the Staten Island special grand jury that declined to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner.
The leaders cited the handling of cases by local prosecutors and courts in the Garner death, the fatal shooting of a teen in Ferguson Mo., and other alleged fatalities at the hands of police as they urged a federal takeover of such prosecutions.
Sharpton's National Action Network is one of about 25 groups that plan to drive their message home with a march in Washington D.C. on Sept. 13.
"We want the Justice Department and the federal government to deal with the fact that the grand jury system at the state level is broken and seems to lack the capacity to deal with police when you are dealing with questions of criminality and killings," Sharpton said in a news conference at the National Action Network in Harlem.
Referring to the fatal Garner altercation with Pantaleo and other officers on July 17 in Tompkinsville that was captured on cell phone, Sharpton said, "even with a video tape you cannot seem to achieve a standard of probable cause" with state grand juries.
"We believe these state grand juries have forfeited their right and ability to bring about justice in police cases," said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.
"This is a moment where our consciousness is shocked," Morial said of the Garner case. "Yesterday the decision by the Staten Island grand jury defied common sense."
Sharpton said there has been "a higher ability to deal with these cases at the federal level than the state level" regarding allegations of serious crimes against citizens by police officers.
Sharpton said part of the problem is that local prosecutors are "conflicted when dealing with police."
Asking that these cases bypass state courts and go directly to the federal courts, Sharpton suggested that the Justice Department have an office with special prosecutors who would immediately step in when these alleged crimes occur.
Loretta E. Lynch, the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney who's been nominated to replace Attorney General Eric Holder, has pledged a "fair and thorough" civil rights investigation into the death of Garner.
Holder announced on Wednesday that the Justice Department will launch a federal investigation into Garner's death.
Morial criticized Donovan for applying to a judge for permission disclose information about the grand jury proceedings. Morial maintained that this is rarely done and suggested that in this case it was proffered because Pantaleo is a police officer.
"In my view these actions border on prosecutorial malpractice," Morial said.
Meanwhile, a Staten Island judge has ordered limited release of information about the special grand jury in the Garner case based on a request from Donovan.
Sharpton took Donovan to task for giving other officers involved in the Garner altercation immunity from prosecution. "I believe there was probable cause for Pantaleo and other officers to face trial," Sharpton said.
Donvan said through a spokesman that his only statement was released on Wednesday.
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