The Rev. Al Sharpton called for justice for the family of a man who died Thursday after New York police officers put him in a chokehold.

Rev. Sharpton and his civil rights organization, the National Action Network, held a rally on Saturday for Eric Garner, who was seen in an exclusive video telling police officers, "I can't breathe," during his arrest.

At the rally, Rev. Sharpton was joined by members of Garner's family and Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, who became too emotional to speak at the rally.

Another rally will also take place at the Mount Sinai Center for Community Enrichment on Staten Island.

After sending his condolence to the victim's family, Mayor Bill de Blasio postponed his highly publicized family vacation to Italy in order to meet with community leaders and city officials about the incident, CBS News reported

In a video recorded by a bystander and obtained by the Daily News, Garner is seen arguing with plainclothes officers on a sidewalk about whether or not he should be arrested. Officers from the New York Police Department accused the Staten Island man of selling untaxed cigarettes, but Garner claimed he was being harassed by the police.

"Leave me alone," he told the two NYPD officers. "I didn't do nothing. ... I was minding my business.

"Every time you see me, you want to harass me, you want to stop me. I'm tired of it. It stops today!," said Garner, who had been arrested 31 times since 1988 on charges that include drug possession, selling cigarettes illegally and assault.

Garner refused to put his hands behind his back when the cops tried to arrest him. That's when two other officers moved in to help detain him.

One officer put Garner, who was asthmatic, in a chokehold before slamming his head on the ground.

During that time, Garner could be heard screaming, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe!"

Officials said he died of a heart attack.

According to the New York Daily News, Garner was a married father of six and a grandfather. Relatives described the 350-pound, 6-foot-3 man as a "gentle giant" and a "big teddy bear," reports the Staten Island Live.

"They jumped him, and they were choking him. He was foaming at the mouth," 22-year-old witness Ramsey Orta told the Daily News. "And that's it, he was done. The cops were saying, 'No, he's OK, he's OK.' He wasn't OK."

Another witness told the Staten Island Live that Garner was "absolutely not selling cigarettes."

The NYPD released a statement on the incident, saying Garner "took a fighting stance" and "absolutely resisted arrest."

According to the Patrol Guide, NYPD officers are not allowed to use chokeholds to restrain suspects.

"We need more courtesy and professional respect," said a friend, Jonathan DeGroat, to CBS News. "Justice needs to be served or there will never be peace."

Watch raw video of the incident here.

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