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These Erica Garner Tributes Show Just How Many People She Inspired

by Morgan Brinlee
Andrew Burton/Getty Images News/Getty Images

The daughter of Eric Garner, a man who died after being put in a chokehold by a New York City police officer in 2014, passed away Saturday at the age of 27. Her death comes less than a week after the activist was hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma upon suffering a heart attack triggered by a severe asthma attack over the holiday weekend. Upon hearing of her death, her family, friends, and fans paid tribute to Erica Garner on Twitter.

Garner was left in critical condition after an asthma attack sent her into cardiac arrest on Dec. 23 and left her with major brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. According to the New York Daily News, this was the second heart attack the young mother of two had suffered in her life. Garner reportedly suffered her first heart attack shortly after delivering her son, who she named after her father, earlier this year.

Garner became an outspoken activist against police brutality and racial justice following the death of her father in July 2014. A New York City police officer placed him in a chokehold after stopping the 43-year-old for illegally selling cigarettes. Video footage of the incident showed him repeatedly telling officers "I can't breathe" before he died.

Since then Garner has lent her voice to the Black Lives Matter movement and the 2016 presidential campaign for Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders. She has challenged city officials and government leaders to stand up against police brutality and has also advocated for racial justice and an end to institutionalized racism.

Here's how Twitter paid tribute to Garner:

Some Remembered Her For Here Fearlessness

Singer-songwriter Halsey remembered the activist as a "fearless force."

Others Paid Tribute To The Dreams She'd Had

Civil rights activist and entrepreneur Michael Skolnik paid tribute to the dreams of service and activism Garner had, noting her memory would live on in the movement she'd helped lead.

Some Remembered Her As a Fierce Friend

Civil rights activist Shaun King remembered what "a fierce protector" Garner was of her friends and family. He called her "as genuine and authentic of a soul you'll ever encounter" in his tribute.

Others Wished Her Peace

Bernice King, the youngest daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., reflected on Garner's tireless spirit and wished her peace.

Some Mourned How The World Had Failed Her

April Reign, the activist who created the #OscarsSoWhite movement in 2015, noted that Garner "deserved better from this world."

Others Noted Her Spirit Would Live On

Writer, historian, and activist Barbara Ransby held Garner up as an example of how activism and involvement in movements bigger than ourselves can add more meaning to our lives.

Some Paid Tribute To Garner's Willingness To Fight Despite The Loss She'd Suffered

Gun violence activist Shannon Watts applauded Garner and her family for their willingness to fight injustice after having suffered a loss.

Others Continued Garner's Calls For An End To Police Brutality

Comedian Akilah Hughes called for an end to police brutality, arguing it kills families and leaves entire communities in distress.

Some Remembered Garner As A Passionate Fighter

Symone D. Sanders, the national press secretary for Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign, said she hoped Garner's friends and family took comfort in knowing what a "fighter" and "passionate soul" Garner was.

Others Noted She Would Not Be Forgotten

Sen. Sanders paid tribute to Garner through a series of tweets in which he remembered the young activist as "an exceptional young woman" whose commitment to activism inspired him.

Some Remembered Specific Moments With Garner

Some Twitter users shared specific memories they had with Garner, which they felt epitomized her energy and spirit.

Others Remembered Garner's Words

Others, like the Ohio Young Black Democrats, remembered Garner's powerful words in their tributes to the young activist.

Some Paid Tribute To Her Tireless Fight For Others

"Erica Garner lived and fought for all of us," one Twitter user tweeted in their tribute to the young activist.

Others Hoped Her Name Would Live On To Inspire Others To Get Involved

More than one Twitter user said they hoped Garner's work and life story would continue to inspire others to become politically engaged and involved in activism.

Some Were Ready To Continue Garner's Work

While others were already more than ready to continue the work Garner had begun.

Others Shared Personal Snapshots

Friends of Garner shared personal photographs and touching tributes about the young mother's "beautiful spirit."

Some Remembered All Garner Had Been

In his tribute to Garner, trial attorney and South Carolina State Rep. Justin Bamberg noted she was a "warrior for justice, equality, and flat out human decency."

Others Celebrated Her As A Bold & Courageous Advocate

Congressman Ro Khanna paid tribute to Garner as "a bold, courageous voice for justice and equality."

Some Remembered All Garner Had Overcome

Twitter user Kendrick Sampson celebrated Garner's ability to overcome her fears and nervousness to deliver public speeches "for the greater good."

Others Celebrated Her Voice

The Marshall Project, which covered Garner's story, remembered the activist for using her voice to shine "a personal light on the injustices of the criminal justice system."

Some Thought About Ways To Honor Garner

Omar Vaid, a progressive Democratic candidate running for Congress in New York's 11th District, suggested honoring Garner through calls for a civil rights investigation into her father's death by the Department of Justice.

At the time of her passing Garner was surrounded by family, NBC New York reported. Garner's family later paid tribute to the young mother and activist in a series of tweets posted on her official Twitter account. "Erica the world loves you. I love you. I am glad you came into our lives," one tweet read. "May you find the peace in the next life that you deserved while you were here."