I can't breathe

This article is about the Black Lives Matter slogan. For other uses, see I Can't Breathe (disambiguation).

I can't breathe
George Floyd protest in 2020
Origin/etymologyKilling of Eric Garner
MeaningRallying cry against police brutality
ContextPolice brutality and lack of police accountability

"I can't breathe" is a slogan of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. The phrase originates from the last words of Eric Garner, an unarmed man who was killed in 2014 after being put in a chokehold by a New York City police officer. A number of other Black Americans, such as Javier Ambler, Manuel Ellis, Elijah McClain, and George Floyd, have said the same phrase prior to dying during similar law-enforcement encounters.[1][2][3] According to a 2020 report by The New York Times, the phrase has been used by over 70 people who died in police custody.[4]

The phrase is now used in widespread protest against police brutality and racial inequality in the United States.

  1. ^ Stelloh, Tim (June 11, 2020). "'I can't breathe,' Oklahoma man tells police before dying. 'I don't care,' officer responds". NBC News. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Flynn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Graham, Taya; Janis, Stephen (June 12, 2020). "The 'I Can't Breathe' Video Police Don't Want You To See". The Real News Network. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  4. ^ Baker, Mike; Valentino-DeVries, Jennifer; Fernandez, Manny; LaForgia, Michael (June 29, 2020). "Three Words. 70 Cases. The Tragic History of 'I Can't Breathe.'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.