People rallied in neighborhoods across New York City Wednesday night after a grand jury decided not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo for the choke hold death of Eric Garner. There was a staged "die-in" at Grand Central Terminal, makeshift memorials erected on Staten Island, where Garner died, a massive march up the West Side Highway. International Business Times reporters Connor Sheets, Julia Glum, Kathleen Caulderwood and Morgan Winsor captured striking images from around the city where demonstrators were making their frustration, their sorrow, their anger, and their voices heard.
It was a dreary, wet afternoon when the grand jury’s decision was revealed. One person at the Staten Island memorial for Garner said officials purposely picked a day with bad weather to hold down the number of protesters.Julia GlumA man holds a sign during a protest march against the New York City grand jury decision to not indict in the death of Eric Garner, in Los Angeles, California, Dec. 3, 2014. REUTERS/Jonathan AlcornDemonstrators hold their hands up during a protest against the grand jury decision in the Eric Garner case, in Times Square. A New York City grand jury decision not to charge a white police officer who killed an unarmed black man with a choke hold sparked outrage and protests on Wednesday, and the U.S. Justice Department said it would investigate the incident. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidEric Garner protesters held signs that said “Harlem is Ferguson, Ferguson is everywhere.” The decision to not indict NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo came nine days after the announcement Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.Kathleen CaulderwoodEric Garner’s tragic death was caught on tape after Officer Pantaleo put him in a chokehold. The father of six, who had asthma, can be heard saying “I can’t breathe” on the tape as the officer continued to hold on. Demonstrators Wednesday night held signs in Times Square that displayed Garner’s dying words.Connor SheetsHundreds of protesters in Times Square staged a march to Rockefeller Center where the Christmas Tree was being lit. Mayor Bill DeBlasio was supposed to attend the annual lighting, but instead he met with activists and officials in Staten Island. "If you really want to dignify the life of Eric Garner, you will protest peacefully,” the mayor said at press the conference. “Don't sully his name with violence."Connor SheetsFlowers, candles and signs marked the area where Garner took his last breaths. "All I do is pray that the Staten Island people will band together, we'll still stand and we'll rally. Maybe this decision can turn for the better,” Linder Hampton, who was at the memorial, said. “There has to be justice, one way or another.” Julia Glum"We have to find a way forward," Mayor Bill DeBlasio said at a press conference in Staten Island Wednesday. "So many people in the city are feeling pain right now." He spoke emotionally about his fears for his own son.Julia GlumA police officer stands over activists demanding justice for the death of Eric Garner, as they stage a 'die-in' during rush hour at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan on the evening of December 3, 2014.Reuters/Adrees LatifRev. Al Sharpton joined Eric Garner's family in Harlem. "How many people have to die before people understand this is not an illusion. This is a reality that America has got to come to terms with," Sharpton said. We are not advocating violence," he added. "We are asking that police violence stop."Morgan Winsor"We need peace throughout the support," Eric Garner's mother Gwen said. "Yeah, we want you to rally, but rally in peace."Morgan Winsor
