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An Illinois woman has filed to trademark New York man Eric Garner‘s dying words as he was tackled to the ground by Staten Island police this summer. The words “I Can’t Breathe” were said by Garner during that fateful altercation, which has served as a nationwide rallying cry in protests against police brutality.

The Smoking Gun discovered that 57-year-old Catherine Crump filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 13, stating that she has been using the “I Can’t Breathe” phrase for commercial purposes since this past August. Crump wants to apply the phrase to a series of items, including hoodies, t-shirts and other items for adults and infants.

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The 57-year-old Crump, who lives in Waukegan, a city 40 miles north of Chicago, contends that she has been using “I can’t breathe” for commercial purposes since “at least as early” as August 18, one month after Eric Garner, 43, died following a confrontation with police on Staten Island.

In an interview, Crump said that she had “nothing to do with the Garner family,” and had not spoken to them about her trademark bid. While claiming that her purpose for marketing “I can’t breathe” garments was not to make money, she declined to disclose what other reason there was for her trademark filing (which cost $325).

Crump’s filing is not a new practice, as three other persons have filed to trademark the phrase “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” to place on clothing. The applications were filed within the three weeks that passed since the shooting death of unarmed Black teen Michael “Mike” Brown in Ferguson, Mo.

Photo: YouTube