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 Protesters gathered on Staten Island, the New York City borough
where Garner, a 43-year-old black father of six, died last July 17
after New York police put him in a banned chokehold.
His death spurred a nationwide debate over how U.S. police treat
minorities. Video footage of police arresting Garner, in which he
could be heard repeatedly saying he could not breathe, went viral on
the Internet, helping draw attention to the case.
A grand jury declined to indict the white police officer involved.
Garner's death was ruled a homicide by the city medical examiner,
who said police killed him by compressing his neck and chest as they
restrained him for selling loose cigarettes.
The family reached a $5.9 million settlement with New York City this
week and also wants the U.S. attorney to pursue a federal civil
rights case.
 Garner's widow and children, joined by about 100 mourners, marked
the anniversary with a mix of gospel songs and tributes at the
Caanan Baptist Church of Christ in the historically black
neighborhood of Harlem.
"I'll never overcome the grief, that will never happen," Garner's
youngest daughter, Emerald Garner, 23, said in an interview. "All
the money in the world can't bring my father back. A settlement is
not justice. Justice to me is to hold the police accountable for
what they do."
The Rev. Al Sharpton drew applause when he spoke of the calls for
change brought on by Garner's death. "Who would have thought,
Emerald, that your father would be the impetus of a movement?" he
said.
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On Staten Island demonstrators carried placards and banners reading
"Black Lives Matter" and rally organizer Travis Morales shouted,
"One year and still we have no justice."
On the sidewalk where Garner died, about 50 people gathered to place
white roses and other mementos on a small memorial of candles and
handwritten signs that commemorate his death.
Each time a rose was laid down, they shouted "I can't breathe" in
reference to Garner's dying words.
A late-afternoon rally in Manhattan's Columbus Circle drew about 200
people and other rallies are planned for Saturday.
The debate about police treatment of minorities intensified in the
month following Garner's death, after a white police officer fatally
shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri,
sparking violent protests in the St. Louis suburb.
(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Eric Beech)
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