Story highlights Bernie Sanders' campaign released a powerful ad featuring the daughter of Eric Garner, who died on Staten Island after a New York police officer put him in a chokehold in 2014

Sanders and Hillary Clinton are locked in a battle for the Democratic nomination, both trying to appeal to African American voters ahead of the South Carolina primary

(CNN) Bernie Sanders' campaign released a powerful ad featuring the daughter of Eric Garner, who died on Staten Island after a New York City police officer put him in a chokehold in 2014.

Sanders and Hillary Clinton are locked in a battle for the Democratic nomination, both trying to appeal to African American voters ahead of the South Carolina primary, where the black vote is crucial to a Democratic victory.

Erica Garner gives a moving account of losing her father, saying, "No one gets to see their parent's last moments. And I was able to see my dad die on national TV. They don't know what they took from us ... he was loved dearly. "

She endorsed Sanders in January, about a week after Eric Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, endorsed Hillary Clinton.

In the video, Erica Garner explains her support for Sanders saying, "I believe that Bernie Sanders is a protester," her account, told at times straight to camera or over images of her protesting, interspersed with Sanders talking about criminal justice reform at campaign events.

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