STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - “Please, I can’t breathe,” George Floyd is heard saying on cell phone video.

The 46-year-old died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes while arresting him for an alleged case of fraud.

What You Need To Know

  • George Floyd and Eric Garner said, “I can’t breathe,” before they died during arrests.
  • Eric Garner’s mother has spoken with George Floyd’s Family.
  • NYC African American officials express outrage over 911 call falsely accusing a black man of threatening white woman.
  • NYPD continues to review the Central Park case  

“It was like my son yelling out from the grave,” said Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s mother.

Garner died six years ago on Staten Island after an NYPD officer put him in a chokehold and held him on the ground as cops tried to arrest the 43-year-old for allegedly selling loose cigarettes. Garner said he couldn’t breathe 11 times.  His mother is outraged by Floyd's death.

“We all know this should not have happened to this young man, like it should not have happened to my son. And it is so disgraceful how they come into our neighborhoods, the police officers and brutalize, terrorize and murder us,” Carr said.

She has spoken with Floyd’s family and hopes to join them as they seek justice.

The officers involved have been fired and the Minneapolis mayor said the officers should face charges.

Here in New York black men and elected officials expressed outrage over that case. The also spoke out over the NYPD not bringing charges against Amy Cooper. She’s the white woman who called 911 Monday falsely accusing a black man, Christian Cooper, of threatening her when they argued over her not having her dog on a leash in Central Park.

The two are not related.

On cell phone video recorded by Christian, Amy said, “I'm going to tell them there's an African-American man threatening my life.”  

While on the call she became hysterical telling a 911 operator, “I’m being threatened by a man in the Ramble, please send the cops immediately.”

The Brooklyn Borough President who is a retired NYPD captain believes Amy Cooper made a false report, "Those responding police officers should have looked at that tape and immediately arrested Amy Cooper.”

The police department says it continues to review the case and is working with the Manhattan District Attorney.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams became emotional as he accused the NYPD of not taking the matter seriously and wondered what could have happened if cops confronted Christian Cooper.

“How dare you! People are dying. They’re dying,” said Williams.

Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer and City Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal who are white woman were among those at the news conference.  The group said the situation in Central Park is one of numerous cases over the decades of white people falsely accusing blacks of crimes.