Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) on Wednesday praised the protesters who interrupted his opening remarks with calls for firing the New York police officer involved in the death Eric Garner.

Booker and fellow presidential candidate New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Bill de BlasioOVERNIGHT ENERGY: California seeks to sell only electric cars by 2035 | EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities | House energy package sparks criticism from left and right EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities New Year's Eve in Times Square to be largely virtual amid pandemic MORE were met with chants of "Fire Pantaleo" as they delivered their opening remarks in Detroit during the second round of debates.

The chant was a reference to New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo, who was involved in the choking death of Garner while attempting to arrest him for selling untaxed cigarettes.

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The chants forced the New Jersey senator to pause while delivering his opening remarks.

"To the folks who were standing up to Mayor de Blasio a few minutes ago—good for you," Booker's official Twitter account tweeted during the second round of the 2020 Democratic primary debates. "That's how change is made. # DemDebate"