Ramsey Orta filmed the killing of Eric Garner in New York City on July 17, 2014.[1] His video spurred protests and debate over city police procedure.[2] Following a campaign of police harassment after the video went viral,[2][3][4][5] in 2016 he was sentenced to four years in prison for weapons and drug charges after accepting a plea deal for which the prosecutor agreed to drop charges against his mother.[6][7][8] He was released in May 2020.
Following his taping of Garner's death, Orta was arrested multiple times. He pled guilty to drug and gun charges in 2016 and received a four-year prison sentence.[9] Orta was transferred multiple times during his imprisonment. As of early 2020, he was in solitary confinement in Collins Correctional Facility.[10] Orta was released in May 2020 and was under court supervision until January 2022.[11][12] A crowdfunding campaign raised over $200,000 for Orta.[11]