The daughter of Eric Garner, who died after a 2014 altercation with police in New York City over the illegal sale of individual cigarettes, is calling the ABC News town hall with President Barack Obama on race in America “a sham.”
Erica Garner was in attendance at the town hall, saying she was brought to Washington, D.C., by ABC News for the event, but was not able to ask a question of the president even though she says she was promised she would be.
“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,” Garner tweeted.
“They promised me that if ANY questions got asked of POTUS that mine would be asked,” she added.
Garner said, “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.”
White House press secretary acknowledged Garner’s anger in a statement to reporters Thursday evening, saying that Obama briefly met with her after the event.
“After the ABC-hosted townhall that was taped this afternoon, the President had a brief opportunity to visit with Erica Garner who was upset that she didn’t get called on to ask a question,” Earnest said.
Her complete Twitter rant follows:
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 (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
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 (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
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 (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
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 (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
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 (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
I speak for myself and many others from the movement for Black lives when I say we wereused n I don’t endorse what happened today on #abc !
— officialERICA GARNER (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
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 (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
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 (@es_snipes) July 15, 2016
i mean basically https://t.co/QRmOwsjq6H
— officialERICA GARNER (@es_snipes) July 15, 2016