Jon Stewart got serious Wednesday during a "Daily Show" segment on the Eric Garner case, expressing disappointment in the New York City grand jury that failed to indict the white cop who put the unarmed black man in a chokehold that ultimately killed him.
"I-I-I-I don’t know," the somber-faced Stewart stammered to his audience. "I honestly don't know what to say. If comedy is tragedy plus time, I need more f—ing time. But I would really settle for less f—ing tragedy, to be honest with you."
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"I think that what is so utterly depressing is that none of the ambiguities that existed in the Ferguson case exist in the Staten Island case, and yet the outcome is exactly the same," he said. "No crime, no trial, all harm, no foul."
"We are definitely not living in a post-racial society. And I bet there are a lot of people out there wondering how much of a society we are living in at all," Stewart continued. "I don't know what to say. It just happened, so I have not had a chance to digest it."
Many on social media agreed with Stewart's take on the situation. One man commented on
The Washington Post's column about the show, "Stewart's opening was 110% accurate. He represented how we all should feel. I know I felt the same. Just throw your hands up in the air and walk away cursing and shaking your heads ... is the reaction that should come from anyone with a brain."
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Others offered their support to Daniel Pantaleo, the officer in question.
"In my opinion, one problem was the size of this guy," one person wrote on The Post's website. "The cops were likely afraid of him getting ahold of them. The other problem is the relationship between police and the black community. There need to be more black police personnel patrolling the black communities, and they need to help the white police personnel understand the black culture. Police need to establish better relationships."
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