Eric Garner Supporters Shut Down FDR Drive, 7 Arrested, NYPD Says

EAST HARLEM, NY — Seven protesters were arrested Monday morning for blocking off a portion of the FDR Drive Monday in a continued effort to call on Mayor Bill de Blasio to fire the NYPD officer who placed Eric Garner in a deadly choke hold five years ago, according to police.

The southbound lanes of the FDR drive near East 116th Street were blocked by protesters carrying a banner that read "Eric Garner had a right to life," NY 1's Dean Meminger first reported. Protesters were removed from the highway and lanes were reopened shortly before 11:30 a.m., NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas Chan said.

Hawk Newsome, an activist with the group Black Lives Matter of Greater NY, streamed the protest on social media. Black Lives Matter of Greater NY is not affiliated with the national Black Lives Matter movement.

"We're on the FDR shutting it down for Eric Garner," Newsome says in the video as cars creep behind the group of about a dozen protesters. "No justice, no peace. If we don't get no justice, they don't get no peace — period."

An NYPD spokeswoman said the seven men who were arrested were sent to the 34th Precinct for processing. The spokeswoman could not confirm what the protesters will be charged with.

Supporters of Eric Garner and his family announced a campaign of "11 days of outrage" last week following the over the U.S. Department of Justice's decision not to bring a civil-rights case against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo and de Blasio's refusal to fire the officer.

Five protesters were arrested outside Gracie Mansion last Thursday shortly after de Blasio met with members of Garner's family including his mother Gwen Carr and daughter Emerald Garner-Snipes.

De Blasio said that he expects the NYPD to conclude an internal disciplinary trial, which may lead to Pantaleo being fired, in August. Despite pressure from activists and fellow Democrat politicians, de Blasio has insisted he does not have the power to fire a single officer and has often brought up the issue of Pantaleo's "due process."