Reaction to the Eric Garner grand jury decision was swift and raw among celebrities and others across the nation. INSIDE EDITION reports.
Whoopi Goldberg on The View said, "It's the story on everybody's lips."
Across the nation, passionate reaction to the grand jury decision not to indict the police officer in the death of street vendor Eric Garner.
Jon Stewart commented, "(Blank), we are definitely not living in a post-racial society and there are many people who are wondering if we're living in a society at all."
Rosie Perez pointed out on The View, "It was on camera!"
Rosie Perez's sentiments were echoed by many.
Michael Strahan said, "It's very hard to look at this on tape and not see why the grand jury would say not to bring any charges against anybody."
Chris Rock spoke at the premiere of his new movie Top 5 in New York, along with Ice-T.
Rock said, "It's really sad when something is on video tape."
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Ice-T said, "We all kind of witnessed a snuff film on television when you saw that video. And then when you come back and say no crime has been committed? That is hard for people to swallow."
Social media lit up with celebrity reactions, and the hashtag, "#ICantBreathe," Eric Garner's last words, went viral.
Rap star Diddy posted a video. In it he said, "This ain't right. When I see a cop car I don't feel safe as a black man. When I see a cop car I get scared."
Bill Maher tweeted: "I'd just like to know what a cop would have to do to get indicted."
And this from Grey's Anatomy's Ellen Pompeo: "#wethepeople are fed up."
Others took to the airwaves to defend the police officer.
A commentator on Fox News said, "He is verbally telling them, 'I'm not allowing you to arrest me,' so now they have to go to the next level which is a physical take down."
New York Representative Peter King blamed Garner's death on his health.
King said, "You had a 350-pound person who was resisting arrest. The police were trying to bring him down as quickly as possible. If he had not had asthma, and a heart condition, and was so obese, almost definitely he would not have died."
Whoopi Goldberg, however, was quick to shoot down that theory.
"He died because he couldn't breathe," said Whoopi Goldberg, holding her hand to her throat.
Still other stars shared messages of healing.
Jamie Foxx, who was promoting Annie on Good Morning America, wouldn't let the interview end without conveying this simple message: "It's time to start healing."
