The family of Eric Garner has recorded a song which describes the pain they have endured since he died in July and after the grand jury decision not to indict police officers in connection with his death.
This Ends Today begins with an audio recording of Garner’s final words “This ends today. I can’t breathe”, which he uttered during the confrontation with police officers on Staten Island that resulted in his death after being put in a chokehold.
The song features Garner’s daughter, Erica Garner, and his brother Steven Flagg, who both rap on the song, while Erica also performs the chorus: “Who is the man with the strength to choose?/ When the rest refuse/ And I say: ‘This ends today’.”
Erica Garner spoke to the New York Daily News about the track.
“It just came from the heart,” she said. “It’s the first time I ever recorded. We want to get it out there on the radio, anywhere, so as many people as possible hear it.”
The song follows a poem made up of Garner’s final words that was created by 17-year-old Jason Fotso and stars such as Paul McCartney considering recording songs about his death and the subsequent nationwide protests.
