Protesters Yelling ‘Fire Pantaleo' Disrupt Democratic Debate

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was targeted with hecklers shouting “Fire Pantaleo” at the second night of the Democratic presidential debates in Detroit. The disruption forced New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker to pause his opening statement Wednesday night. Video shows several people being escorted out of the city’s historic Fox Theatre as they continued to shout. Daniel Pantaleo is the New York City police officer officials opted not to charge in the death of Eric Garner. He is accused of using an illegal chokehold on Eric Garner five years ago. Garner’s family and others have demanded that de Blasio fire Pantaleo after federal prosecutors announced they would not bring civil rights charges in the case. “Don’t sit there and say you want to create a more equitable society for everyone while back at home you are allowing police officers to kill without any recourse or accountability,” said Kirsten John Foy, the northeast regional director of civil rights nonprofit National Action Network, after being kicked out for protesting. “Eric Garner was choked to death after having screamed out ‘I can’t breathe’ eleven times and this man was the mayor when it happened and he’s the mayor today and he’s allowed Daniel Pantaleo to continue to enrich himself.”