OOF: Marriage Is Upper Middle Class WHITE SUPREMACY, Says ... Upper Middle Class...
MLK Jr. Spirit Award Winner Wishes Utter Death and Worse to Those Who...
MSNBC: Jon Stewart Learns From Complaints, Stops Making Biden Jokes
White House: Senate Republicans Are Relentlessly Smearing Biden's Judicial Nominee
Vanderbilt Tampon Tantrum Takes Terrific Turn
Here Are More Harrowing Details About Nex Benedict
Idaho Tribune Announces Cash Reward for Evidence of 'Hate Crime' Against Basketball Team
Fascism Alert: Washington State to Offer Cash Reward for Reporting 'Hate Speech' and...
BREAKING: Democratic Mega Donor Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced for Crypto Crimes
Jewish Democrats Endorse Challengers to Squad Members
That's Gonna Leave a Mark: Riley Gaines SCHOOLS Scott Wiener After He Calls...
Politicizing the Baltimore Bridge Tragedy and Attacking Conservative Media is a New Low...
Missouri Attorney General Announces Suit Against Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation
The LEAST They Could Do: IL Parole Board Members Resign After Prisoner They...
Righteous Anger Boils Over as NYPD Union Tells City Council NOT to Attend...

'Bad laws made bad cops': Did NYC's cigarette tax lead to Eric Garner's death?

The news that a Staten Island grand jury has decided not to indict a NYPD officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner has prompted a widespread public outcry. But it is also important to recall the circumstances that made Garner a target in the first place:

Advertisement

https://twitter.com/JayCaruso/status/540229135793389568

From The Washington Times:

Was he robbing a store or attacking innocent citizens? No, police arrested Garner supposedly for selling untaxed cigarettes. The strong-arm arresting process claimed Garner’s life, all over the sale of 75-cent loose cigarettes or “loosies.”

Garner chose to participate in the booming underground cigarette market as a smuggler. Since 2009, he had been arrested eight times for selling loosies, which are popular among people who can’t afford a full pack because of the excessive taxes.

In January 2014, tough new penalties for selling untaxed cigarettes took effect in New York City. In July, emboldened by the new law, the city’s highest-ranking uniformed cop, Philip Banks, issued an order to crack down on loosie sales days before Garner died.

Advertisement

https://twitter.com/StarChamberMaid/status/540233326360289280

Advertisement

https://twitter.com/rjgstone/status/540240788916297728

***

Related:

Reports: Staten Island grand jury will not indict officer for chokehold death of Eric Garner

Oliver Willis: Grand jury decision in Eric Garner case shows it’s ‘open season’ on blacks

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Twitchy Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement