Though it has been two years since Eric Garner died after being placed in an NYPD officer’s choke hold on Staten Island, his family’s loss continues to reverberate this week after two other black men were killed by police. In memory of Garner, and as a reaction to the current violence, Garner’s family has released a new song: “I Can’t Breathe.â€
Garner’s sister Ellisha Flagg sings and his brother Steven Flagg raps on the track, which is available through iTunes, Apple Music, and on SoundCloud. The song’s refrain, “I can hear my brother crying ‘I can’t breathe,’†is in reference to the phrase Garner repeated multiple times in a widely circulated video of the moments leading up to his death and has served as a rallying cry in several protests against police brutality.
The song is released as many celebrities are also calling for change and peace with original music, including Jay Z, Miguel, Ariana Grande, and Victoria Monét. Listen to “I Can’t Breathe†below.