The phrase “I can’t breathe” is most widely recognized as originating from the death of Eric Garner in 2014, when he repeatedly said the words while being restrained by a New York City police officer. The incident was captured on video and sparked widespread protests and a broader Black Lives Matter movement, with the phrase subsequently becoming a rallying cry against police brutality and racial injustice. Garner’s brief repetition of the words, often cited as 11 times in the video, helped propel the phrase into national and international attention, and it has since been used by many others who died in similar encounters, as well as by protesters and advocates seeking reform.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise timeline of the events surrounding Garner’s death and how the phrase evolved into a broader social movement, or share notable discussions about the rhetoric and impact of the slogan.