Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner

Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, killed by the NYPD on Staten Island in 2014, channels her grief into a yearslong fight for justice, drawing international media attention. When the news cameras go away, she surrounds herself with photos of lost loved ones in her home to restore her strength through memories. Her fight challenges the NYPD and former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, demanding accountability for the officers involved in her son’s death. Along the way, she forms deep bonds with other "Mothers of the Movement," women who have also lost family to police violence—the “club no one wants to be a part of.” In passing the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act in New York while helping other mothers navigate their own journeys, Gwen’s story is one of unwavering resolve. Despite the justice system’s repeated failures, she remains determined to protect other mothers’ sons and to cherish her remaining family.