Following the decision not to indict a white NYPD officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man, thousands of protesters took to the streets in Midtown Manhattan. Protesters were in Columbus Circle, Union Square, Times Square, and near Rockefeller Center.
As of this posting, there are approximately one thousands protesters who have shut down the West Side Highway in both direction i the area on West 50th Street. The NYPD is on the scene, and arrests are already underway.
The decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo added to the tensions that have simmered in the city since the July 17 death of Garner – a case that sparked outrage and drew comparisons to the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, where demonstrations turned violent and resulted in more than 100 arrests and destruction of 12 commercial buildings by fire.
Many protesters wanted to head to the tree-lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center, but couldn’t get close because of roadblocks in the area.
Hundreds headed to the West Side Highway at 49th Street where police formed a huge barricade and the highway was shutdown in both directions.
Some demonstrators were arrested at 47th Street and 6th Avenue for sitting on the ground, others for trying to get through barricades.
NOW: Amsterdam & E 108 St – hundreds of protesters walking north. #NYPD Aviation overhead. Req assistance forthwith http://t.co/KjZYHPOq0j
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
BREAKING: The NYPD arrested around 30 protesters so far tonight in NYC http://t.co/KjZYHPOq0j
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
NOW: Huge crowd of protesters at W 65 St & Columbus Ave sitting with arms locked refused to allow traffic through http://t.co/KjZYHPOq0j
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
GRAND CENTRAL PLATFORM: NYPD requesting heavy response for large group of protesters on the 4 5 6 southbound platform http://t.co/KjZYHPOq0j
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
BREAKING: The NYPD arrested around 30 protesters so far tonight in NYC http://t.co/KjZYHPOq0j — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
NOW: Huge crowd of protesters at W 65 St & Columbus Ave sitting with arms locked refused to allow traffic through http://t.co/KjZYHPOq0j
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
Sound gun at West Side Highway. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/jsDYOjoesk — Nicolás Medina Mora (@MedinaMora) December 4, 2014
NOW: Large group headed to #GrandCentralStation – #NYPD mobilizing units. http://t.co/xUsa7dnw8U #EricGarner #MikeBrown #Ferguson
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
BREAKING VIDEO: #NYPD & protesters appear to be in standoff on the West Side Highway https://t.co/PPXSLWkCuF — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
BREAKING: Protesters Shut Down West Side Highway –#EricGarner [PHOTOS] – http://t.co/UwqARnxlN0 pic.twitter.com/gxdmsaEovq
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
Just now on NYC’s West Side Highway RT @conorskelding: Moving up onto viaduct. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/cBDoyo9MKr — Jim Dalrymple II (@JimDalrympleII) December 4, 2014
Another photo from the scene of the protests on the West Side Highway. Read more: http://t.co/Tt6E0jQvub pic.twitter.com/1Dw1g22hL7
— NY1 News (@NY1) December 4, 2014
West Side Highway right now. #ericgarner https://t.co/AfVbxI5cFG — Nicolás Medina Mora (@MedinaMora) December 4, 2014
Tons of arrests happening on West Side Highway. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/QuHMchMrPo
— Nicolás Medina Mora (@MedinaMora) December 4, 2014
Throughout the course of the day, various Fox News hosts have said that what happened to Garner was ridiculous and the grand jury should have indicted. #BREAKING: NYC’s West Side Highway has been blocked by #EricGarner protesters. (via @ChristRobbins/@DanLinden) pic.twitter.com/1L66kNc5Dk
West Side Highway at 51st blocked in both directions #EricGarner #nyc pic.twitter.com/1VKJjNh5wY
PHOTOS: Protesters now running up the West Side Highway #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/rQQFXHdx5L
NYPD officers have blocked off protesters trying to walk down Manhattan’s West Side Highway #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/lhrtD020wp — Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 4, 2014
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 4, 2014— Alex H. Nagler (@Nagler) December 4, 2014— News2Share (@news_2_share) December 4, 2014
Protesters have completely blocked Broadway @ 42. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/CbgNb153gB
NYPD REQ ASSISTANCE FORTHWITH: 44 St & 7 Ave – 500 people shut down traffic. Another group on 60 St & Amsterdam Ave http://t.co/xUsa7dnw8U — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
— Nicolás Medina Mora (@MedinaMora) December 4, 2014
#Injustice #EricGarner #Protesting #NYC #LiveandDirect #BlackLivesMatter A video posted by LPiU Omicron Chapter (@outrageousdivas) on
ARRESTS UNDERWAY! #NYPD HAS JUST STARTED ARRESTING PROTESTERS AT 47ST & 6 AVE. http://t.co/xUsa7dnw8U @ChristRobbins pic.twitter.com/Lz2VWRuNXr — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014
Protesters ripping down some barricades, flooding. 6th Ave & W 47th pic.twitter.com/o8ShdYinrW — Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) December 3, 2014
Chants of “You Serve Us!” as crowd chafes under the barricades pic.twitter.com/fiJi9dmBJg — Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) December 3, 2014
#BREAKING: Police Bus Arrives Outside Rockefeller Center –#EricGarner #NYC pic.twitter.com/x6Y6OwXFxL — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 3, 2014
NOW: NYPD Attempts To Keep Protesters From Rockefeller Center –#NYC #EricGarner … – http://t.co/UwqARnxlN0 pic.twitter.com/fHaMZAPbOK — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 3, 2014
NYPD violently plunging into the crowd to arrest protesters pic.twitter.com/owprgZuyBH — Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) December 4, 2014
NYPD now clearing intersection by force pic.twitter.com/cfJlQWKXJN — Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) December 4, 2014
Man in red jacket plucked out of crowd and arrested, unclear as to why pic.twitter.com/X8wM3wyWQn — Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) December 4, 2014
Was told that around 5 people were arrested at 6th and 47th for sitting down in traffic pic.twitter.com/dmEymZ1SVf — Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) December 3, 2014
WATCH–LIVE STREAMS ACROSS #NYC: #EricGarner #Ferguson – http://t.co/1cgM5bNILR pic.twitter.com/oT230aTiDF — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 3, 2014
The NYPD is cutting off train entrances, apparently in an attempt to prevent organized protests. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/8TvYEFE6vx — Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) December 3, 2014
Protesters outside Rockefeller Center #EricGarner https://t.co/OL96cTJR3k — Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 3, 2014
First wave of protesters have arrived at Rockefeller Center #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/cFGsbJOQO5 — Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 3, 2014
Crowds are gathering #30RockTree pic.twitter.com/CkQMS8bTlR — Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 3, 2014
NYPD keeps putting up barricades on 6th Ave ahead of protesters, preventing them from reaching Rockefeller Center. pic.twitter.com/Xh8MsDwGPQ — ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
Protestors on move, “shutem down, Christmas tree” #EricGarner heading for Rockefeller Center? pic.twitter.com/AlXtquDmGo — Stephen Nessen (@s_nessen) December 3, 2014
4:30 protest at Grand Central 5:00 Garner family int Times Sq. 7:00 Rockfeller Christmas tree 7:30 Garners & Sharpon in Harlem #EricGarner — Justin Miller (@justinjm1) December 3, 2014
Police officer stands in the middle of “die in” protests at NYC’s Grand Central http://t.co/fUS0PaTS4o pic.twitter.com/oQqZUpD4Qu — BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 3, 2014
PHOTO: New York City’s Grand Central Terminal at rush hour where ‘die in’ protest is taking place – @russell0907 pic.twitter.com/WZq7eoczmH — Breaking News (@NewsOnTheMin) December 3, 2014
Lots of NYPD and state police at Grand Central Terminal, expecting to allow protestors to do a sit-in and move along. pic.twitter.com/vFrAcUUqvI — Stephen Nessen (@s_nessen) December 3, 2014
Around 100 police vehicle at NYPD’s Front Street staging area in anticipation of #EricGarner grand jury decision. pic.twitter.com/rLCWPlhj8v — Vincent Barone (@vinbarone) December 3, 2014
BREAKING: sources say no indictment in #Garner case #StatenIsland police now setting up barricades #nbc4ny pic.twitter.com/WF5hSR23ZX — Andrew Siff (@andrewsiff4NY) December 3, 2014
Stuyvesant Place #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/d7DljMNnrL — Vincent Barone (@vinbarone) December 3, 2014
