Following the announcement Wednesday afternoon that a Staten Island grand jury has decided to not indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo with criminal charges related to the death of Eric Garner, protests have begun in NYC. Mayor Bill de Blasio criticized the outcome, saying, “This is a deeply emotional day — for the Garner Family, and all New Yorkers. Eric Garner’s death put a spotlight on police-community relations and civil rights – some of most critical issues our nation faces today. Today’s outcome is one that many in our city did not want.” The NYPD intimated that it has been expecting discontent with the decision, and indeed, at 4:30 PM, protestors gathered at Grand Central Station. ANIMAL will be covering the demonstrations on Twitter, as well as updating this post throughout the night:
Die in at Grand Central Station happening right now. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/fV9NmJeNAY
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
There’s about 20 people participating in the die in. #GrandCentralStation #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/weiTZdzs4q
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
Tourist: “Is this the Ferguson thing?” ANIMAL: No. “The Cleveland thing?” No. “Then what?” The Staten Island thing. “Oh.” #EricGarner
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
“It’s either a protest or art,” says one passerby to another inside Grand Central Station. #EricGarner
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
The die in at Grand Central that started at around 4:40pm has grown to about 50 people. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/LNRXeVt3yO
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
Protesters are chanting "I can't breathe," and just rose to their feet.
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
Protesters emerged out of Grand Central and onto 42nd Street where they are walking in the street blocking traffic. pic.twitter.com/iW0HDP8fzh
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
The protesters from Grand Central just merged with a bigger crowd at Times Square. 1 person chanted: "Take the tree." pic.twitter.com/y5lWsGSHK1
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
Several blocks south, in Union Square, journalist Tim Pool spots buses:
Seems like the #NYPD is preparing for possible mass arrests, four buses a block from Union Square. #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/h2YRtiPXrc
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) December 3, 2014
For police buses on the side of the street, several police vehicles across the street One block from Union Square. pic.twitter.com/ffxhVwjBRQ
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) December 3, 2014
The protesters move from Grand Central to Rockefeller Center, where the Christmas Tree is scheduled to be lit:
Marchers headed to Rockefeller Center.
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
First wave of protesters have arrived at Rockefeller Center #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/cFGsbJOQO5
— 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
justice for #ericgarner… #shutitdown #nojusticenotree https://t.co/5nmgusVaF3
— steve roggenbuck (@steveroggenbuck) December 3, 2014
Overhead shot from @Time of Sixth Avenue, traffic moved to only one lane. #EricGarner #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/ayX0pcCQTN
— Andrew Katz (@katz) December 3, 2014
Protesters run ahead of police barriers and finally make it across 6th Avenue and onto 53rd Street. pic.twitter.com/I2V8qHqdjW
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
Since NYPD blocked off Rockefeller Center, protesters are now walking into traffic on Lexington Avenue. pic.twitter.com/obJae50gXe
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
Come for the tree lighting- stay for the protest! Protesters outside #Rockefeller Center. http://t.co/eOJgNT2pds #EricGarner #ICantBreathe
— Anonymous (@YourAnonGlobal) December 3, 2014
Madison Avenue and 47th Street right now. (Correction: protesters marching into traffic on Madison not Lexington) pic.twitter.com/CNj8zuMcN4
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
NYPD forms a line with kettling net on 5th Avenue and 46th Street. Looking north. (Photo: @aymanndotcom) pic.twitter.com/C1IfqeEb1C
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 3, 2014
MASSIVE: The two #EricGarner marches have met at 47th St and 6th Ave, taken over the intersection. pic.twitter.com/28KGKSqAW8
— Keegan Stephan (@KeeganNYC) December 4, 2014
Cops blocking the way out of Rockefeller Center subway station pic.twitter.com/0XlTKtVx3h
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 3, 2014
Arrests going down at 47th and 6th Avenue. Massive standoff between police and protesters. pic.twitter.com/b9Xcgqhuzo
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
As protesters walk past Fox News HQ they chant: "Fuck Fox News," as a news ticker mentions #EricGarner protests #meta pic.twitter.com/qoeeNYQ5Xe
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
NYPD busses headed to Times Square 42nd pic.twitter.com/YFcigeTkoT
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 4, 2014
#EricGarner protestors getting #NYPD escort as they march through traffic pic.twitter.com/Oz3N3t9wGh
— Deborah Feyerick (@DebFeyerickCNN) December 4, 2014
New York protesters now in front of Radio City Music hall chanting, "Hands up don't shoot?"#EricGarner pic.twitter.com/yKu4gW4cYl
— LaToya M. Smith (@LaToyaReports) December 4, 2014
NOW: NYPD making arrests at 47th & 6th Ave. Follow @AndrewKirell + @ChristRobbins #ShutItDown #NoJusticeNoTree pic.twitter.com/A524iqzZJd
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) December 4, 2014
Protestors marching west on 50th Street and then turning north up Broadway. pic.twitter.com/43EpymCVCE
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) December 4, 2014
— April Davis (@April_Davis) December 4, 2014
People who want to get to the tree clashing with protestors not realizing that the cops won't let them by regardless pic.twitter.com/D06uYNrN63
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 4, 2014
Cops fencing people in on both sides of 6th Ave pic.twitter.com/SCg2sIaoiT
— Versha Sharma (@versharma) December 4, 2014
Protesters marching in the streets through Times Square, heading north on Broadway. pic.twitter.com/pTZ76v9AOD
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
Die In Protest New York City #EricGarner #UStired2 #YaMeCanse pic.twitter.com/dk8Qh67ItH
— #YoSoy132 S-COMPA (@YoSoy132SC) December 4, 2014
Eric Garner protests headed uptown on 9th ave. Lots of honking and thumbs up pic.twitter.com/ad96MVDRwJ
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 4, 2014
Hundred of protesters spilling into the West Side Highway, close to 1,000 pic.twitter.com/lFS4oEQChK
— Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) December 4, 2014
More photos of protesters on West Side Highway #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/AR2zVexkP5
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 4, 2014
West Side Highway shutdown. pic.twitter.com/4yo9jpIDPo
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
Hundreds of people marching to West Side Highway. Not a cop in sight. #EricGarner
— Nicolás Medina Mora (@MedinaMora) December 4, 2014
People carrying trash on to the highway pic.twitter.com/dbEZTfzLW2
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 4, 2014
12 ave is shutdown pic.twitter.com/IUI9fusnXa
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 4, 2014
West Side Highway #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/TAxrmmw776
— Jada Yuan (@jadabird) December 4, 2014
Things getting hectic. Police shoving protesters and they're shoving back. West Side Highway. pic.twitter.com/pL1e9K3Xvo
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
Absolute chaos as protesters and police clash. At least 2 arrests. West Side Highway pic.twitter.com/mBcGVOkTF8
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
Rockefeller Center heating up. #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/0HSSs2kCSH
— Omar Wasow (@owasow) December 4, 2014
Scene at West Side Highway is really tense. Cops trying and failing to get people out of highway. #ericgarner pic.twitter.com/oGkTPJgWzP
— Nicolás Medina Mora (@MedinaMora) December 4, 2014
Possible kettling on west side highway pic.twitter.com/jyfHPkLbNV
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 4, 2014
Protesters blocked in paddy wagons coming in for arrests pic.twitter.com/q0icc7ZZlR
— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) December 4, 2014
NYPD scooters stretching across entire West Side Highway to try and block protesters, so they switched direction. pic.twitter.com/VrpFhEvVqP
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
West Side Highway and 57th Street. Two more arrests. pic.twitter.com/c4C6xMpc19
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
Die in on West Side Highway. Traffic snarled. pic.twitter.com/5PJN67SSd9
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
Both sides of West Side Highway clear of cars. Helicopters overhead. Really did #shutitdown #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/igkuD5A6Xl
— Jada Yuan (@jadabird) December 4, 2014
Police move in on protesters who walked up West Side Highway ramp. pic.twitter.com/bncelqSKyI
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) December 4, 2014
3 angles of same image back to back #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/CcFsrdr1Gb
— Peter Jacobson (@PeteAJ) December 4, 2014
(Photos: Bucky Turco, Aymann Ismail/ANIMAL New York)
