In a series of posts on Twitter, the daughter of Eric Garner, who died when police used a chokehold on him for selling loose cigarettes, claims she was lured to be a guest on an ABC town hall on race for ratings and then ignored.
Since the tragic death of her father in 2014, Erica Garner has become a fierce advocate for Black Lives Matter and had hoped to use her appearance on the show to speak the nation and to President Barack Obama who was hosting the discussion.
As noted by Jezebel, things did not go the way Garner claims she had been promised by ABC and that she had been "railroaded" by the television network.
“I was railroaded! I was railroaded by ABC on the two-year anniversary of my father’s death!” Erica was heard yelling, according to People Magazine. “That’s what I have to do? A black person has to yell to be heard?”
Following the taping of the show, Garner took to Twitter to explain what happened.
Yo this town hall that presidential town hall #abc arranged is a farce. It was nothing short of full exploitation of Black pain and grief— officialERICA GARNER (@officialERICA GARNER)1468532069.0
They lied to me and my family to get us to travel to DC to participate. Taking time away from things I had planned to remember my father.— officialERICA GARNER (@officialERICA GARNER)1468532111.0
they promised me that if ANY questions got asked of #POTUS that mine would be asked... They lied to both me and @osope to get us there.— officialERICA GARNER (@officialERICA GARNER)1468532335.0
Garner also pointed out the manipulative positioning of placing the son of Alton Sterling, shot by police last week in Baton Rouge while pinned to the ground, with Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The Texas lawmaker last week blasted BLM protesters in Dallas as "hypocrites" for running away from the sniper fire the killed five policemen just over a week ago.
I should have known something was wrong when they had little Cameron Sterling standing with the Lt. Gov of Texas while he denounced BLM— officialERICA GARNER (@officialERICA GARNER)1468532430.0
I need all of you to know that this #ABC town hall that will air at 8pm is a sham. They shut out ALL real and hard questions— officialERICA GARNER (@officialERICA GARNER)1468532570.0
I went there trying to represent THE PEOPLE... #ABC wanted ratings even if it meant they had to profit from Black misery and oppression.— officialERICA GARNER (@officialERICA GARNER)1468538168.0
I was not upset about not speaking with #POTUS . i was upset because #ABC lied and used me, my pain, and suffering for ratings.— officialERICA GARNER (@officialERICA GARNER)1468541891.0
According to the White House, President Obama spoke privately with Garner after the event.
