Hundreds of protesters staged a “die in” at major New York City retail locations on Friday due to a grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo for his role in the death of Eric Garner.
Protesters laid on the ground in an Apple store on Fifth Avenue and in a Macy’s at Herald Square on Friday to draw attention to their cause.
“The CEO of Apple knows we shut his store down—that means capitalist America is going to take us seriously,” 30-year-old Brooklyn resident Zandir Santos told USA Today. “We are going to shake up your business and we want to hit you where it hurts.
Friday night’s protests grew heated at times with police pushing protesters back on to sidewalks, but so far police have let protesting continue unobstructed, USA Today reported.
“We are animals to [the police]. If we’re animals and you’re afraid of us, how can you really protect us? You’re not going to try,” said Stephenetta Harmon, one of about 40 protesters who gathered in the rain new Wall Street in New York City on Friday, NBC News reported. “We are upset and hurt beyond reasoning right now.”
In Washington, protesters staged “die ins” blocking traffic in major intersections. Many shouted “these killer cops have got to go,” and held signs saying “I can’t breath,” referring to Eric Garner’s last words as he was choked to death by a police officer in Staten Island.
SEE ALSO: De Blasio’s Eric Garner comments anger police union
Protesters shut down Interstate 195 in Miami on Friday, upset not only by the grand jury’s decision not to indict officers in the killings of both Mr. Garner and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., but also a similar case in Miami beach of Israel “Reefa” Hernandez.
Over 1,000 people marched nearly two miles from Somerville to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and staged a “die-in” in Harvard Square.
Students walked out of classes in Philadelphia chanting, “No Justice! No Peace!” In Oakland, California, hundreds of protesters shut down lanes on Interstate 880 at Market street, but the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division said the road was cleared by 12:30 a.m. ET, NBC reported.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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