Brooklyn kicked off its annual Christmas tree lighting event at Borough Hall Monday night.

Borough President Eric Adams used the opportunity to reflect on the death of Eric Garner and pay tribute to fallen police officers. After the tree was lit, Adams darkened the lights for a moment of silence. He also called for local and national criminal justice reform.

During the silence, a drum was struck 11 times to symbolize how many times Garner said, "I can't breathe."

PBA President Pat Lynch voiced concerns about the ceremony saying that Adams should have the drums tapped 80 times in memory of the 80 officers that have died in duty since 1999.

Adams compromised and the drums were played an additional seven times for the seven killed in the city this year.