Carr Gwen - This stops today Eric Garners mother seeks justice after losing her son

A S THE MATRIARCH OF ONE OF Staten Islands largest African American families, Gwen Carr has earned nationwide recognition as the mother of the late Eric Garner, who was murdered by New York police in July 2014. Because the incident was captured on a cell phone video and posted online, his death has played an integral part in raising awareness about the issue of police brutality in the United States, particularly for the Black community.

Gwen Carrs story began in South Brooklyn, where she lived most of her life and raised her family. A longtime employee of both the United States Postal Service and New York Citys Metropolitan Transportation Authority, she had planned to retire before the tragedy occurred. Now Mrs. Carr has become an activist, determined to hold the city accountable for the shocking treatment of her son. With three children, fifteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, she represents the voice of several generations, all of whom have suffered greatly from the loss of their beloved Eric.

To assist with the healing of others, the nonprofit organization the Garner Way Foundation was established. Within the foundation, Mrs. Carr facilitates the program This Stops Today, which provides ongoing support and education to the ever-increasing victims of violence and to the families suffering from tragedy and loss. The name of the program comes from her own sons words. Immediately before his death, Eric Garner said to the police, This stops today, to express his frustration with their constant profiling and harassment.

As the legal proceedings continue in the case of her son, Gwen Carrs maternal sensibilities will not allow a moments pause in the fight for justice, and she will forever remain stridently dedicated to the cause. Learn more about her mission at www.ThisStopsToday.com.

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Carr, Gwen, author. | Smitherman, Dave, co-author.

Title: This stops today : Eric Garners mother seeks justice after losing her son / Gwen Carr with Dave Smitherman.

Description: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018011674 (print) | LCCN 2018033576 (ebook) | ISBN 9781538109816 (electronic) | ISBN 9781538109809 (cloth : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Carr, Gwen. | MothersNew York (State)New York Biography. | Police brutalityNew York (State)New York. | Police misconduct

New York (State)New York. | Social justiceNew York (State)New York. Classification: LCC HQ759 (ebook) | LCC HQ759 .C289 2018 (print) | DDC 306.874/3dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018011674

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

Every time you see me, you want to harass me, you want to stop me. Im so sick of it. Im minding my business, officer. Im minding my business. Please just leave me alone. I told you the last time, please just leave me alone. I did not do anything.... Please, please dont touch me. Do not touch me.... I cant breathe!

Eric Garner

In Memory of Erica Garner

Erica, you are my sons first child, my first grandchild. I just cant come to grips with you being gone so soon. It seems you were here but a day, and now youve gone away. But your fight for your dad will live on in me, and so will my love for you and yours.

Mrs. Carrs incredible strength in the face of tragedy is monumental and awe inspiring. Though there are dark days, she continues to fight for the rights of victims everywhere. She was thrust into action because she had to; she did it for Eric. The fight for justice continues.

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon,
coproducers of the TV docuseries Two Sides

Hillary Rodham Clinton

T HE WRITER E LIZABETH S TONE SAYS THAT having a child is forever deciding to have your heart go walking around outside your body. Those words were echoing in my mind the day I first met Gwen Carr and the other Mothers of the Movement. Over iced tea at the Sweet Maple Cafe on Chicagos West Side, I listened to the stories of these brokenhearted mothers. Despite living through every parents worst nightmare, they radiated strength and quiet, fierce dignity. Their stories, and their strength, have stayed with me ever since. So has Gwens declaration that she intended to turn her sorrow into a strategy, and her mourning into a movement. By channeling her private pain into public activism, and sharing her truth in the pages of this book, thats exactly what she has done.

Its easy to feel overwhelmed by all thats happening in our country, especially nowto read one heartbreaking headline after another and start to think, Theres nothing I can do, and it hurts too much to even try . But we cannot grow weary of doing good. Just think of Gwens resolve, her resilience, and her refusal to give up. She has endured some of the most painful circumstances imaginablethe excruciating loss of her firstborn, attempts to silence her voice, inaction from her own government, even attacks in the media. Yet, far from growing weary, she is doing everything she can to make our country a better place. As Gwen writes of her journey from quiet grandmother to unlikely activist, I didnt know if I could make a real difference, but I did know that I could try. And so can we all.

From the title to the final page, Gwens book is a powerful call to action for our country. Its also a deeply personal story that any parent can relate tothe story of a proud and loving mother determined to fight for her son. It can be a daunting challenge to pour your heart onto the page, to write candidly and courageously about things you may never even have spoken out loud. But with her trademark eloquence, Gwen bravely shines a light on her own doubts, her struggles, and her quest to push through her limits and pain as a woman in her golden years who would rather be at home in her recliner. Not only that, but she also summons the generosity to share her son Eric with the world: He was much more than just a Black man in a viral video. He was a caring, compassionate man who had love as wide as the ocean. Knowing Gwen is a gift, and so is reading this book.

I am grateful every day to Gwen for her friendship, and for her willingness to share her ideas and perspective with me with the same honesty and eloquence that radiates from these pages. These are complicated issues. But, as Gwen points out, Its our responsibility to figure out what each of us can do to contribute. In our current political climate, reading and sharing books like Gwens, and adding our voices to hers, is even more vital. And while progress is still too slow, when the opportunity arises to move forward and create real change, the policy principles Gwen has laid out in this book are a fantastic place to start.