WATCH ABOVE: New York’s streets were overrun with people protesting the grand jury decision not to indict the officer implicated in the choking death of Eric Garner.
Protests have spread across New York City Wednesday afternoon following a grand jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man.
Eric Garner, 43, died July 17 after NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. A cellphone video of the incident showed Pantaleo putting Garner in a chokehold, which is banned by NYPD policy.
In the video, Garner, who had asthma, was heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe!” He later died in hospital.
The case has sparked outrage and drew immediate comparisons to the deadly police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
WATCH: Mayor Bill De Blasio says Garner decision is ‘profoundly personal’
Thousands of protesters gathered in Times Square holding signs reading “Black lives matter” and “Fellow white people, wake up.” People in the Staten Island neighbourhood where Garner died reacted to the grand jury verdict with angry disbelief and chanted, “I can’t breathe!” and “Hands up – don’t choke!”
The protests also moved to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan where thousands had already gathered to watch the lighting of the 85-foot-tall tree.
Mayor Bill de Blasio canceled his appearance at the tree lighting ceremony to meet with Garner’s father and other community leaders.
In an emotional speech de Blasio called it a “very painful day” for the city of New York.
READ MORE: $75 million suit planned over NYC chokehold death of Eric Garner
“So many people in the city are feeling pain right now, and we’re grieving again over the loss of Eric Garner, who was a father, a husband, a son, a good man—a man who should be with us and isn’t. That pain, that simple fact, is felt again so sharply today,” said de Blasio, during a press conference.
The mayor also urged those who are upset with the grand jury decision to choose peaceful protest over violence.
Below are images from social media of the protests in New York City.
https://twitter.com/AamerISmad/status/540336617718697985
https://twitter.com/TheAnonMessage/status/540334566419218432
https://twitter.com/frankpallotta/status/540353840512790529
*With files from The Associated Press
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