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Police brutality or accidental death? (VIDEO)

The Rev. Al Sharpton marches with family members of Eric Garner (right) and hundreds of others during a demonstration against the death of Eric Garner after he was taken into police custody in Staten Island on Thursday on July 19, 2014 in New York City. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in a news conference yesterday that there will be a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Garner. The 400-pound, 6-foot-4 asthmatic, Garner (43) died after police put him in a chokehold outside of a convenience store for illegally selling cigarettes. AFP Photo
The Rev. Al Sharpton marches with family members of Eric Garner (right) and hundreds of others during a demonstration against the death of Eric Garner after he was taken into police custody in Staten Island on Thursday on July 19, 2014 in New York City. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in a news conference yesterday that there will be a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Garner. The 400-pound, 6-foot-4 asthmatic, Garner (43) died after police put him in a chokehold outside of a convenience store for illegally selling cigarettes. AFP Photo

The death of 43-year-old American man Eric Garner has sparked an uproar following the release of a video of the incident that led to his death.

A video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows an NYPD officer putting Garner in an illegal chokehold after he refused to come with them.

According to viralglobalnews.com, the NYPD accused Garner of selling cigarettes, something which he can be heard denying on the video.

In the video, Garner tells the police to leave him alone, and states he was not selling cigarettes.

“Please do not touch me,” Garner says to the Police before one officer puts him in a chokehold, refusing to let up even when the father of six repeatedly yells that he can’t breathe.

According to news reports Garner suffered a heart attack at the scene. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Rev. Al Sharpton is one of those who have lambasted the police for their handling of the matter.

“None of them said, ‘Let’s stop. He can’t breathe,’ ” NYDailynews quoted the reverend saying.

“Even if police procedures don’t kick in, when does your sense of humanity kick in? Have we gotten so cold?” he asked.

The officer in question Daniel Pantaleo was ‘stripped of his badge and gun and placed on modified assignment’, the NYPD announced on Saturday.

*WARNING: Sensitive viewers may find the video below a bit disturbing.*

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