TORONTO – Demonstrators continue to gather in U.S. cities to protest police actions in Ferguson, Missouri and other shooting deaths by police across the country.
Close to 200 people gathered at Union Square in New York City Wednesday night and marched through the East Village in protest of the death of Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by a cop in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson almost two weeks ago.
According to New York Daily News, two arrests were made during the mostly peaceful march. However, a video posted to Facebook appears to show police tackling a demonstrator to the ground.
Bystanders who witnessed the arrest began chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” a slogan that has echoed across U.S. since protests began in Ferguson.
Meanwhile in Oakland, California, close to 200 people gathered at police headquarters and were met by officers in riot gear.
A handful of protesters were seen holding up mirrors in front of officers.
“I was holding up the mirror because I wanted the police to just look at themselves. Especially if they were about to take some kind of action, just so they had to acknowledge what they were doing,” protester Nichola Torbett told CBS News.
No arrests were made.
In Ferguson, police arrested six people in what appeared to be one of the first quiet nights in nearly two weeks.
However, some residents were on edge after two people made a brief appearance in solidarity with Darren Wilson, the officer who fatally shot Brown.
Meanwhile, a Missouri Highway Patrol officer was suspended Wednesday after a video surfaced showing the officer pointing a rifle at a protester and threatening to “kill” him Tuesday night.
“I will f***ing kill you. Get back!,” the officer said.
WARNING: Video contains very graphic language. Viewer discretion is advised
After viewing the video, American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri sent a letter to Missouri Highway Patrol requesting the officer be removed from service immediately.
Earlier, protesters gathered outside a St. Louis courthouse where a grand jury began hearing evidence to determine whether Wilson should be charged.
A spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said there was no timeline for the process, but it could take weeks.
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