This Stops Today

by Gwen Carr

  I agreed that it would be great, but just like I was no activist, I was definitely not a writer. Nadia assured me that she would figure it out, and she did. She found a literary agent and a cowriter who promised to help me through the entire process. That was exactly what I needed because I had big plans for the year and I knew that writing a book was a big undertaking. The agent and writer were both located in the Washington, DC, area, so Nadia had another idea. She proposed that we go meet them, establish a relationship, and maybe get some preliminary interviews done as well.

  She also suggested that we pay a little visit to the White House. Prior to the new administration coming in, Eric’s case had supposedly been moved from the civil to the criminal division of the Department of Justice. Civil cases would focus on whether a person’s civil rights were violated. A criminal case would suggest that criminal charges may be filed. We didn’t have anything definite because everything is confidential, but if it had moved, that meant that maybe there would be some decision to proceed with charges.

  In March, we made our way to the nation’s capital for a full day of meetings. First, we met with Dave, the cowriter, at our hotel lounge. He asked me questions and recorded me as I told my story as best I could. I tried to get in all the details I could think of, and Nadia was there to confirm some of the timeline. I never thought it was so detailed and involved. I had been living it, but to retell it to someone and put it all into some type of order that makes sense was a new world for me. Once again, I was learning something new, and I was grateful for that.

  After the interviews, we had a quick lunch and said our goodbyes to Dave so we could head to our next appointment. We made our way downtown and arrived at the White House. Nadia had already called our contact, Omarosa Manigault-Newman. At the time I believe her title was director of communications of public liaison. Nadia had been in touch with her, and she agreed to talk with us. I wasn’t sure what to expect because there had been a lot of stories about her, especially because of her role as a “villain” on some reality shows, including The Apprentice.

  For some reason we had an issue getting inside the White House. I guess security had been tightened and we were supposedly on a list, but not on the list. I don’t know what was going on, but Nadia explained it to Omarosa, and she said, “No problem. I’ll come down and we can go to the café on the corner to talk.” So that’s what we did.

  I was pleasantly surprised because she talked to us on a personal level, not as an official or a politician. She was very nice to us. I told her that I don’t agree with the party she was aligned with, but I thought that she was a kind and compassionate person and I hoped that she could help us get some information about Eric’s case. We talked with her for more than two hours. I stressed that the U.S. Department of Justice was really our last resort and trying to get answers from anyone over there was almost impossible. We had even gone there before but couldn’t find out anything.

  It was my hope that maybe she could call over there and at least see whether they would give her some information on what was planned. I know it wasn’t going to be an official announcement or anything like that, but I just thought on a personal level she could at least try to get something from them. At that point, legally, that was really our last option. There had been talk about the FBI going back and forth between New York agents and federal agents and the need for an independent prosecutor.

  I wondered that if that issue kept coming up, why wasn’t anything being done to address it? To me, it seemed like there should be an automatic trigger that an impartial prosecutor unaffiliated with the departments involved in a case was required. It didn’t make sense to me that it would even be a question. While these men were arguing about whose territory it was and which jurisdiction and this and that, lives were at stake. It was ridiculous.

  We realized that we were late for our dinner with Diane, my literary agent, and Dave had also agreed to join us at a place in the Adams Morgan section of Washington. We finally got there, a little late, but we made it. When we arrived, we saw that April Ryan, the White House correspondent I’d met before, was there with them. I knew she was with the same high-powered agent, which was fine, but I was a little surprised that she was at our dinner.

  Regardless, we all sat down and started to talk. Things went very well, and we were having a good time. Then April asked where we had been, and I told her that we had met with Omarosa at the White House, hoping to find out something about Eric’s case at the DOJ. She asked me whether she could interview me about it. To be honest, I was caught off guard because I hadn’t planned anything, and it had just happened. I also knew that we hadn’t gone through proper channels and just hoped to get any morsel of information.

  April pulled out a recorder at the dinner table and asked me where we were earlier and what we hoped to accomplish by talking to Omarosa. I answered as best I could and hoped I didn’t say anything that would hinder whatever progress Omarosa was able to make. I told April that I wanted them to take an objective look at my son’s case and maybe we would get some kind of a positive outcome. I wanted to see the police officers held accountable for their misconduct. Nadia gave me the side eye the entire time. Once we were done, April thanked me and left. We talked more about the book and our ideas for it and finished eating.

  The next day there were headlines everywhere, like the one in the Daily News that read “Eric Garner’s mother meets with Trump aide Omarosa Manigault to get update on federal probe of son’s death.” The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, was in the news saying that it was inappropriate for us to meet. I thought, Now I’ve really messed up. My phone rang all that day, everyone looking for a comment. I didn’t know what to do.

  Nadia told me that I hadn’t really messed up, but I needed to understand the difference between talking to the media to get Eric’s name out and giving information that could jeopardize the investigation. I know April was just doing her job, and I also know she and Omarosa did not get along, but I wasn’t thinking about all of that at the time. I was just thinking about Eric. One reporter did get hold of me, and he tried to get me to give him a comment.

  “Do you have any comment on your White House visit?” he asked.

  I responded, “Oh, you mean when I met Barack Obama?” I knew that wasn’t what he meant, but I decided to play into the naïve grandmother stereotype some people have of me. Maybe I would get the hang of the crazy public relations world after all.

  July 2017 marked the third anniversary of the death of my first-born child. This event wasn’t as lavish as the previous one, and there was no surprise visit from Beyoncé, but it was a time for us to honor Eric. I was pleasantly surprised when many of the mothers were able to show up. It was a huge list including Margarita Rosario (Anthony Rosario), Carol Gray (Kimani Gray), Constance Malcolm (Ramarley Graham), Hawa Bah (Mohamed Bah), Iris Baez (Anthony Baez), Valerie Bell (Sean Bell), Nicholas Heyward (Nicholas Heyward Jr.), Victor Dempsey (Delrawn Small), Auntie (Akai Gurley), Natasha Duncan (Shantel Davis), Kadi Diallo (Amadou Diallo), Wanda Johnson (Oscar Grant), Lezley McSpadden (Michael Brown), Samaria Rice (Tamir Rice), Queen Brown (Eviton Brown), Marion Gray-Hopkins (Gary Hopkins Jr.), Greta Willis (Kevin L. Cooper), Rhanda Dormeus (Korryn Gaines), Gwendolyn Wesley (Clifford Wesley), Cynthia D. Dawkins (Timothy Dawkins), Beverly Smith (Alonzo Smith), Pam Brooks (Amir Brooks), Gina Best (India Kager), Nardyne Jefferies (Brishell Jones), Bridzette Lane (Raphael Briscoe), Burnett McFadden (Randolph, Reginald, Linton McFadden), and Sheila Banks (Corey Jones).

  There may have been more. I think it was the most mothers gathered at one of Eric’s events, and I was eternally grateful. Ellisha helped with some of the organization, and I had Ben back on the grill. We went to my two supportive churches, Christian Love and New Hope, and then after the services we visited Eric’s grave site before returning to the church for dinner. It wasn’t fancy or stuffy—just a nice gathering of people who wanted to commemorate Eric and come together for some fellowship. We all wor
e white on Sunday to show our unity.

  In September, we got some positive news, but then found out that it wasn’t quite what it had initially appeared to be. New York City has a Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), which is an independent agency that investigates complaints against New York City police officers. It’s composed of city residents who investigate impartially and then send their findings to the police commissioner. The CCRB issued a recommendation that officer Daniel Pantaleo receive the strictest and most severe charges from the New York Police Department. Unfortunately, much like the coroner’s report, nothing was done. We found out that recommendations like that are just basically suggestions and the NYPD and the mayor have the option of whether to take action. Their alternative is to wait for the federal investigation, so of course that was the path they chose—to do nothing.

  Any time incidents like that come up, it reminds me why I do this “unplanned activism” of mine. It is so automatic for us to take the easy way and either not get involved or pass the buck. At first it shocked me when folks in authority positions would tell me to my face that there was nothing they could do when I knew that was not true. Still I smiled and went along with it. Like the way I dealt with that reporter on the phone, I tried to use people’s perceptions of me to my advantage. As an activist, you learn that each situation is different, and challenges will present themselves with little notice. There’s no one way to handle them, but, as I learned with that impromptu interview, if you’re not careful, you can get T-boned.

  Nadia came to me with yet another opportunity, this one a television show. A production company was working with actress Viola Davis and her husband to create a four-part series spotlighting the deaths of Black people at the hands of the police. The format was that they would talk to the family of the deceased to get their side and then meet with law enforcement representatives to hear things from their perspective. The title of the docu-series was appropriately Two Sides and would air on the Black-owned TV One.

  Four episodes were planned, so Nadia worked with them to make sure Eric’s story was the first one to air. She knew that there would be a lot of initial publicity and having such a high-profile story would be the best way to start the series. They promised to use Eric’s case as the first episode. They sent out the following press release:

  Two Sides is a landmark limited four-part docu-series exploring watershed moments for law enforcement and the Black community at the crossroads between life and death, premiering Monday, January 22 at 10 p.m. ET on TV One. Executive produced by Academy Award winner Viola Davis, Julius Tennon (JuVee Productions) and Lemuel Plummer (L. Plummer Media) with narration by Davis, each one-hour episode of Two Sides offers an in-depth, comprehensive look into disturbing cases of officer- involved deaths.

  Focusing on four headline-grabbing fatal police encounters during 2014–2015, the series analyzes and presents multiple points of view of the highly charged cases involving Eric Garner (New York), Ezell Ford (California), John Crawford (Ohio), and Sandra Bland (Texas). Their tragic deaths sparked grassroots social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter, inspired protests by high-profile personalities, and immortalized their names as tragic figures in the polarizing debate on police brutality and race.

  “ Two Sides continues TV One’s mission to represent the issues and concerns of the importance to the Black community,” says D’Angela Proctor, TV One Head of Original Programming and Production. “Inspired by courageous acts such as NBA Champions LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers who donned ‘I Can’t Breathe’ shirts in honor of Garner during pregame warm-ups, and the NFL’s Colin Kaepernick who kneeled during the anthem prior to games for an entire season to raise awareness of police brutality, we wanted to utilize our platform to shine a light on this pressing issue. We’re honored to work with Viola and Julius, who have been active voices in the fight for equality to explore both sides of this dynamic equation, which continues to dominate social and political discourse in America.”

  JuVee executive producers Davis and Tennon both hope the show can help expand the dialogue around these incidents and provide an opportunity for real change to occur.

  “With Two Sides you’ll hear how the incident transpired and how it affected change or did not affect change. And, how the families are still being affected,” said Davis and Tennon in a joint statement. “This is a way for us to humanize these victims and not make them just a statistic. We also have to look at the other side of the story—our law enforcement’s point of view. Let’s come together and have a conversation around these issues so that we can come up with real solutions that will lead to positive change.”

  In addition to discussing the circumstances leading to the victims’ fateful encounter with police, in each episode of Two Sides family and friends share their heartbreaking accounts of where they were when their loved ones died, along with fond memories and recollections of their young lives. Law enforcement experts and independent commentators offer expertise and opinions on each incident with explanations of police regulations and procedures, as well as an analysis of the many factors involved in each of these four unique events.

  The series also features commentary from high-profile contributors such as activist Rev. Al Sharpton, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and attorney Christopher Darden, as well as representatives from various law enforcement agencies and other notable pundits.

  “There are two sides to every story,” says Rev. Al Sharpton in the premiere episode. “I believe the policeman has a side; I believe the victim has a side; But there is only one truth.”

  “These cases sparked controversy that ignited a necessary movement throughout our country,” says TV One General Manager Michelle Rice. “The relationship between law enforcement and the African American community has been a precarious one for far too long and the conversation around reform must continue. There is a historical and deep divide that needs to be mended. We are privileged to present this unique series which offers an in-depth look into each story from two different perspectives, and hopefully influences an honest dialogue on the fractured state of police-community relations.”

  FEATURED CASES:

  •ERIC GARNER (43)—STATEN ISLAND, NY

  In the summer of 2014, Eric Garner was choked and killed by NYPD officers while being arrested. The 43-year-old was standing outside of a beauty supply store in Staten Island, New York, when police tried to arrest him for allegedly illegally selling loose cigarettes. The video of Officer Daniel Pantaleo putting Garner in a chokehold went viral. Although the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, a grand jury has thus far declined to indict Pantaleo.

  •EZELL FORD (25)—LOS ANGELES, CA

  Ezell Ford died at 25-years-old in August 2014 after being shot three times in the back during a scuffle with Los Angeles Police Department Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas. Competing accounts of the events surrounding Ford’s death sparked unrest and demonstrations. Almost two years later, in June 2016, the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners concluded that only one of the officers was justified in the shooting. Upon receiving the ruling, the Ford family filed a lawsuit against the LAPD claiming $75 million in damages; the case was eventually settled out of court.

  •JOHN CRAWFORD (22)—DAYTON, OH

  John Crawford III was shot by officers while carrying a BB gun at a Wal-Mart store in Beavercreek, Ohio. Crawford was only 22-years-old at the time of his death in August 2014. A grand jury failed to indict Officer Sean Williams and Sgt. David Darkow, leading to protests by members of the Black Lives Matter movement.

  •SANDRA BLAND (28)—HEMPSTEAD, TX

  In the summer of 2015, Sandra Bland was found hanging in her jail cell after being arrested at a traffic stop three days prior. Her death was ultimately ruled a suicide but Bland’s family disagrees. The dispute over Bland’s cause of death led to unrest in communities across the nation.

  Two Sides is produced for TV One by L. Plummer Media in partnership with JuVee Productio
ns. Lemuel Plummer and Jason Tol-bert of L. Plummer Media and Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Andrew T. Wang of JuVee Productions serve as Executive Producers. For TV One, D’Angela Proctor is SVP, Original Programming & Production and shares executive in charge of production duties with Robyn Greene Arrington, VP, Original Programming & Production.

  That October, the production company visited us and set up interviews with various family members. We spent several days talking with production, filming interviews, and visiting various locations in the city. I wasn’t sure what they were going to use once they put it all together, but I did hope that having an entire episode focused on Eric’s case was a big deal and would garner a lot of publicity. It was part of the new strategy Nadia and I were implementing to use my time as effectively as I could. I was impressed with how they seemed to take care to really listen to what we had to say and why we felt so discouraged by state and federal authorities.

  I wanted to stress that I did not want to be portrayed any differently than how I truly felt. I didn’t want to come off as out of touch or particularly vindictive. I know how TV shows can film interviews and then change things around when they are edited so they come out differently than it was described. It made me think of Omarosa and how she came across on some of the shows she was on. I don’t know who the true person is, but she seemed so different in person from what I’d seen on TV.

  So that was one of my concerns. Would we be portrayed accurately and respectfully? They assured me that I did not need to be concerned, and the fact that Viola Davis was connected to the project did help me feel better because she seems to be involved in quality productions. Putting trust in people you don’t know is scary, especially when they are telling the story of how your son was killed. It’s important that it be explained accurately, especially because of the circumstances and because it is reportedly still under investigation.