NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) The family of Eric Garner joined the Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network headquarters to serve Christmas Dinner to the needy Thursday.
Garners mother Gwen Carr, and his widowEsaw Garner helped with the annual dinner for the homeless and senior citizens. They also gave out toys to children.
They paused at 12:30 p.m. for a moment of silence to remember officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, and their families.
Im feeling overyjoyed, overwhelmed, emotional, trying to keep a smile on my face and think about him not being here, Esaw Garner said. I feel very bad for the wife and the children [of officers Ramos and Liu] that they experienced the same thing I did, that hewent to work and didnt come home, and its horrible.
Liu and Ramos were killed in an ambush attack Saturday. The gunman indicated the motive for the shooting was the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, both of whom died during encounters with police. The deaths of Garner and Brown triggered widespread protests, including one in which two police lieutenants were attacked, prompting outrage against City Hall by the police unions. After Liu and Ramos were killed, police union representatives said that de Blasio has blood on his hands.
Mayor Bill de Blasio called for a moratorium on protests and politics until after the funerals of Ramos and Liu.
Members of the Garner family said they will not participate in protests until after the funerals.
When we do resume protesting, we still ask for peace, Carr said. We dont want anybody out there protesting radically in my sons name.
Sharpton called on protesters to stand with the mourning families with dignity.
This is not, never has and never will be, an anti-police movement. It is not, and never will be, a kill police movement, Sharpton said Thursday.
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Family Of Eric Garner, Rev. Al Sharpton Hold Moment Of Silence For Fallen Officers Liu And Ramos