Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.), a 2020 White House hopeful, on Tuesday criticized a decision by federal prosecutors not to charge a New York City police officer who killed Eric Garner, an unarmed black man, in 2014.

"The Garner family has suffered too much. This decision pains me," Sanders tweeted. "It is not just, and we will not have real justice for black Americans until there is serious reform of our racist criminal justice system."

The Garner family has suffered too much. This decision pains me. It is not just, and we will not have real justice for black Americans until there is serious reform of our racist criminal justice system. https://t.co/U3wZiXJDg1 — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 16, 2019

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Garner's daughter, Erica, had backed Sanders in his 2016 presidential campaign. She died in 2017 at age 27.

The New York Times reports prosecutors will not charge Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who held Garner in a headlock while attempting to arrest him for selling untaxed cigarettes.

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Garner was heard saying "I can't breathe," as he died.

A New York City medical examiner ruled Garner died of an asthma attack caused by a chokehold.

Pantaleo denied he placed Garner in a chokehold, a maneuver prohibited under NYPD policy.