One thousand, eight hundred and twenty-six days ago, Eric Garner, under arrest for selling loose cigarettes, died in police custody after 11 times saying "I can't breathe" while pressed to the pavement by police.
One thousand, six hundred and eighty-seven days ago, hours after a Staten Island grand jury declined to bring charges against Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo, whose use of a banned NYPD chokehold contributed to Garner's death, then-Attorney General Eric Holder promised, "Our prosecutors will conduct an independent, thorough, fair and expeditious investigation" into whether Pantaleo violated Garner's civil rights.
The last gasp of hope for justice for Garner's family was uttered Tuesday, by Richard Donohue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District. There will be no federal civil rights charges filed.
Tuesday, even as he explained the decision not to charge Garner, Donohue made clear that Pantaleo used the banned chokehold.
Insult upon insult upon insult upon injury: The NYPD's endless, black-box disciplinary process means it will likely be another six weeks before there's even a chance for New Yorkers to reach closure in a tragedy that federal and local bumbling turned into a farce.