On Saturday, Chicago Bulls NBA star Derrick Rose wore a T-shirt bearing the words, which has become the slogan of the demonstrations in major US cities because they were the last phrase uttered by a black father of six in New York when police placed him in a chokehold.

Eric Garner died but a grand jury on Wednesday decided not to charge the white police officer, triggering days of protests in several US cities.

Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush wore a top with "I can't breathe" written on it ahead of an NFL game on Sunday, as did Cleveland Browns ace Johnson Bademosi.

Davin Joseph, a St Louis Rams guard, wrote the same words on his cleats and tweeted it, along with the caption: "RIP Eric Garner."