'Jesus Would Be Right Here,' Declares Seminary VP in NYC's Massive Protest Over Eric Garner's Death

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Friday, December 05, 2014

One white professional, who did not want to be identify because of her job but had a lot to say on the issue, said she decided to protest because: "I wanted to be a part of the cry for Justice. I am outraged, it's gotta stop."

She said when she first heard that the Staten Island grand jury would not bring criminal charges against officer Pantaleo her first reaction was, "Really? Did you see the video?"

"I could not believe it," she added.

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She agreed with comments made by President Barack Obama that the issue of racial inequity is indeed an American problem and it was one of the reasons that led her to the streets on Thursday.

"It's absolutely an American problem. It's been an American problem from the earliest days of America. We have a terrible legacy of slavery and we're not over it," she said.

Among the changes she hopes will come from sustained protests is a policy that would require a special prosecutor in questionable police shootings.

"In my wildest dreams I think that they should always have special prosecutors for things like this because there is such a conflict of interest between the DA and the police," she said. "I don't know that that's going to happen but we've been trying to get that to happen for a long time but that would be amazing," she noted.

Afolarin Adeleke, a student at St. John's University, said he was hopeful that the protests will bring about some change.

"For hundreds of years we've been divided in this country and for the past couple of days we've been seeing it on TV," he said. "Now with the protests I see that this is all on everyone's watch. This police brutality that's been going on for generations has become the centerpiece of every news media outlet in the world and I feel that together if we stay peaceful, this can change. It's gonna be a hard process but eventually it'll change," said Adeleke.

He said he was disgusted by the video of Eric Garner being choked to death and was weary because it has happened too many times before.

"You know, this country wasn't built to protect black people. A lot of people are surprised but it's hard not to be, not surprised you know…decision after decision after decision… [It's been the same thing]," he trailed off.

Morgan Bell, another St. John's University student, said she was inspired by the protests but hoped that the protests will be channeled into finding solutions for the persistent problem.

"It think it's important that we all show that it's not ok. My biggest thing is that when people protest for a few days, it goes away and then they wait for the next incident to happen and then protest again," she said. "I think that when it's time to vote, that we vote for who's in the Congress, who's our judges [who can help effect policy changes]. I think people only vote for who is our president and then they're done," she said.

"I want to make sure this isn't just this and then it goes away. At the end of the day, just this, is not gonna solve anything," she ended.