Spike Lee Erects Memorial To NYC Man Who Died After NYPD Chokehold

The film director has publicly criticized NYPD's use of excessive force that led to Eric Garner's death in July.

Film director Spike Lee erected this memorial for Eric Garner, the asthmatic father of six who died after a brutal altercation with NYPD officers last month.

Lee has hung the memorial, created by artist Adrian Franks, outside his film studio in Brooklyn.

The memorial is a large image of Garner and is inscribed with the 43-year-old's last words as NYPD officers descended on him: "I can't breathe."

Garner was a Staten Island resident who had been arrested for selling untaxed cigarettes.

Lee has been vocal about criticizing the NYPD's excessive use of force against Garner whose death was ruled a homicide by the New York City Medical Examiner.

Brother Eric Garner No Longer Breathes Courtesy Of Banned NYPD Chokehold. Rest In Power. http://t.co/dlqAUvede9

He created a video comparing the NYPD's chokehold of Garner with clips of a character being choked to death by the police from his movie Do The Right Thing.

(H/t DNAinfo)

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