THE IMPACT OF THE SLOGAN I CAN’T BREATHE ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT: THE ERIC GARNER CASE

Resumen

The research reports the death of Eric Garner and explores his circumstances and environment. The goal is to analyze the context with a focus on Eric's killing by the police, as well as how the case developed and gained public outcry. From this initial investigation, it works with the Black Lives Matter movement, its origin, organization and objectives. It analyses the various outlines that Eric's case has taken over the years and his contribution to the movement, with emphasis on police brutality and its progress over the last few years. Finally, it explores this context of death and protest through Philip Zimbardo's total situation theory. The method is the hypothetical-deductive through bibliographic research, documentary collection and analysis. The initial hypothesis points to the existence of four key elements regarding the Garner case that were fundamental to the growth of the BLM movement: the filming of the police interaction, its diffusion through social media, the death of the victim, and the history of racism in the country. It concludes by attributing to these four elements a powerful impact on the survival and reach of the Black Lives Matter movement.