Ahead of the New York primary, Bernie Sanders is running a television ad featuring the daugther of Eric Garner, a black man who died in New York City police custody.

The "Erica" ad is a short version of a four-minute web video unveiled two months ago displaying Erica Garner's support for Sanders, but this is the first time the footage will be on television. Since her father's death, the younger Garner has become an activist against police brutality.

"I got to see my dad die on national TV. They don't know what they took from us. People are dying. We need a president that's going to talk about it," Erica Garner says in the ad. "I believe Bernie Sanders is a protester. He's not scared to go up against the criminal justice system. He's not scared — that's why I'm for Bernie."

Police brutality has become an important issue on the campaign trail over the past year, especially on the Democratic side, and the ad is an attempt to highlight Sanders' commitment to the issue before the April 19 New York primary.

Both Clinton and Sanders claim home state advantage in New York, as Sanders was born in Brooklyn and Clinton represented the state as a U.S. senator for eight years.