NYPD Chokehold Case Draws Nationwide Outrage

Across the political spectrum there was outrage and condemnation against a grand jury's decision not to charge a white New York City police officer over the death of Eric Garner, an African-American man.

Protests erupted in New York and other cities nationwide Wednesday night. But unlike the recent protests in Ferguson, where there was widespread arson and looting, the demonstrations in the Big Apple were largely peaceful.

"Who gave you guys the right to choke people?" one New York City demonstrator yelled.

"When the people are scared of the people who are supposed to protect them, then you know something is wrong," another protester said.

Yet another demonstrator said, "We see these things happen to us all the time and it's just come to a point where it's the last straw, and I feel like so many of us can't take it anymore."

Now, the Justice Department is getting involved in the case.

"I'm here to announce that the Justice Department will proceed with a federal civil rights investigation into Mr. Garner's death," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said.

On July 17, Officer Daniel Pantaleo was captured on video using an apparent chokehold on Garner, who was resisting arrest on suspicion of selling cigarettes on the sidewalk.

The 400-pound asthmatic was eventually wrestled to the ground and placed in handcuffs. But the video also showed Garner repeatedly gasping "I can't breathe," as the officers took him down.

According to press reports, Pantaleo's supervisor on the scene, an African-American female sergeant, did nothing to stop him from choking Garner.

Even though his death was ruled a homicide caused by compression of his throat and chest, the grand jury decided not to indict the officer. That decision is drawing criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

"I don't like Eric Holder, and in general don't approve of feds doubling up, but the Eric Garner case merits it. This needs a U.S. attorney," Ken White, a Libertarian, tweeted.

Columnist and Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer agreed.

"I think anybody who looks at the video would think this was the wrong judgment," he said.

Meanwhile, Officer Panteleo has issued an apology to the victim's family.

"I became a police officer to help people and to protect those who can't protect themselves," Pantaleo said in the statement. "It is never my intention to harm anyone and I feel very bad about the death of Mr. Garner. My family and I include him and his family in our prayers and I hope that they will accept my personal condolences for their loss."

But Garner's widow said, "The time for remorse would have been when my husband was yelling to breathe."