Eric Garner's family respects slain officers more than NYPD who turn their backs

UPDATE:I wrote this on Friday. Sunday, hundreds of NYPD, once again, disrespected the families of the slain officers by turning the funeral of officer Wenjian Liu into a political spectacle by turning their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio. Instead of honoring Liu, they chose to protest De Blasio. This time they also explicitly defied the wishes of Police New York Police Commissioner William Bratton, who stated in a memo “A hero’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance.” 

Too many police leaders and politicians have responded to the recent tragic double murder of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos by blaming Barack Obama, Bill de Blasio, and peaceful police brutality protestors. At the same time, they refuse to acknowledge, let alone condemn, the police violence and brutality that have claimed the lives of countless people, including Eric Garner and Michael Brown. 

This New Year's, a good resolution for these professional pugilists would be to learn from the very families who have lost their loved ones to police brutality. The families of Michael Brown and, Eric Garner, in particular, would be good to study. While grieving their own losses, they have been able to extend condolences and sympathy to the grieving families of officers Lui and Ramos. And they have condemned violence in any form.  

The family of Michael Brown released the following statement:

The family of Michael Brown condemns today’s senseless killing of two NYPD officers. We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot be tolerated. We must work together to bring peace to our communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers’ families during this incredibly difficult time.

The mother, wife and daughter of Eric Garner also offered their condolences and rejected violence. [statement starts at 3:40]

Gwen Carr, Garner's mother, said,

We are going in peace, and anyone who’s standing with us, we want you to not use Eric Garner’s name for violence, because we are not about that. These two police officers lost their lives senselessly, and our condolences to the families, and we stand with the families.

Garner's widow Esaw also offered sympathy and rejected violence:

I just want to express my condolences and heartfelt sadness for these two officers and their family. I know what they’re going through to lose a loved one right before the holidays and everything. It’s so sad, and I would ask that everyone that is protesting with us, please protest in a nonviolent way. My husband was not a violent man, so we don’t want any violence connected to his name.

Garner's youngest daughter, Emerald Snipes-Garner, 22, visited a makeshift memorial where the two police officers were killed and also visited the family of officer Ramos. She explained,

It hit my heart because I know what it feels like, with this upcoming season and you don’t have your father around, I know firsthand what you’re feeling.... And I just want everyone to know that we have to pray for the mental health of the activists and people. … And you know, I want to let everyone know that we have to be peaceful. My father wasn’t a violent man. He was very peaceful. There are ways that you can do things without letting tragedies happen.

My message here is to keep everything peaceful. We stand together as one. This country is — we are all one. We are not divided. We’re not separating. We’re all standing together. There will be continued peaceful protesting. I believe that everyone will keep it peaceful and protest in the right manner.

Compare this compassionate response to the response of Darren Wilson. During an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who murdered Michael Brown, showed no remorse: