a standoff between protesters and police on the west side highway. the response of the decision of the grand jury not to indict the police officer who put a choke hold or arm around the neck of eric garner as he said i can't breathe 11 times before dying. joining me now is senior editor for "the atlantic." what was your reaction today when you heard the news? >> i was -- i would like to say i was surprised, i was not surprised. i was not shocked at all. we expect our grand juries to operate outside of the ways that affect ordinary citizens. laws, grand juries, our hallowed institutions they are what the people make them to be ultimately. they don't exist on some other plane immune from other forces like american racism. so i like to say i was shocked and surprised. i was not, regrettably.