A Toms River restaurant has issued an apology after an old photograph of a sign referencing police brutality resurfaced.
The electronic sign was posted outside Rivoli’s Restaurant in Toms River and read, “I can breathe I obey the law.”
New Jersey 101.5 reports that the signage was originally outside the restaurant’s previous location in 2014 and was referencing the death of Eric Garner – a black man who died after an encounter with an NYPD police officer. Police had stopped Garner for allegedly selling loose cigarettes. During the encounter, Garner was placed in a chokehold and told officers that he could not breathe. He later died.
The sign has now resurfaced following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Floyd died on Monday after four officers arrested him for allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit bill at a grocery store. Video footage shows Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes. Floyd also stated that he could not breathe.
In a Facebook post, Riv’s Toms River Hub owner wrote, “We apologize for our projection at our old restaurant. What was done to George Floyd on Monday is a disgrace and there is NO way we support that. The post that is circulating right now is from over 6 years and if I could go back in time I wouldn’t posted that on my signage. Again, we apologize.”
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The four Minneapolis officers were fired Tuesday and Chauvin has become the focus of angry street protests and a federal investigation.
President Donald Trump says that the incident will be investigated.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.