Spike Lee edits together footage of NYPD chokehold victim with scene from "Do the Right Thing"

In a a heartbreaking video, Spike Lee makes a powerful statement about police brutality

Published July 21, 2014 10:30PM (EDT)

Spike Lee       (Reuters/Lucas Jackson)
Spike Lee (Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

Last week, Eric Garner, a 43-year-old father of six living in Staten Island, died after a police officer put him in a chokehold. Garner, who had chronic asthma, diabetes and sleep apnea, according to NYMag.com, audibly told police officers that he could not breathe -- nine times.

The horrific scene of NYPD brutality was captured on video.

Director Spike Lee edited the two-minute video, together with a terribly similar scene from his 1989 movie "Do the Right Thing."

The edited video is powerful, because the fictional portrayal of Radio Raheem's death -- again realized, last week, in the death of Eric Garner -- was inspired by the real-life death of Michael Stewart in 1983, Slate points out. The video can be seen below:

NYMag.com also points out that anonymous cops are making disturbing comments in response to the original video of Garner being choked.


By Sarah Gray

Sarah Gray is an assistant editor at Salon, focusing on innovation. Follow @sarahhhgray or email sgray@salon.com.

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Do The Right Thing Eric Garner News Nypd Police Brutality Spike Lee Video