Garner Family Plans Trip To DC Protest; 220 Protesters Arrested In NYC Friday
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The protests continued Friday night in the wake of the Staten Island grand jury's decision not to indict the NYPD officer at the center of the Eric Garner case.
Now, Garner's family is planning to protest in Washington, D.C. at the National March Against Police Violence, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
PHOTOS: Friday Night Eric Garner Protests
Members of Garner's family made an appearance with Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network headquarters in Harlem Saturday morning.
"Next Saturday is where we go from moment to movement," Sharpton told the crowd.
Garner Family Plans Trip To DC Protest
Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, said it "warmed her heart'' to see so many people protesting after Wednesday's announcement.
"I'm so proud that everybody is doing what they have to do and keep on doing it but just do it in peace," she said.
Garner's wife, Esaw Garner, said she told her son "Look at all the love that your father's getting," as demonstrators marched near their home.
Sharpton also joined Garner's family at the site of his death Saturday afternoon to lay a wreath and announce that a bus will be provided for protesters to travel to the march in D.C., 1010 WINS reported.
"We're going to the national government where we can get some permanent justice," Sharpton said.
Sharpton is calling for Congress to hold hearings and pass legislative reform to the grand jury process, utilizing momentum from the protests, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.
"Now we have to make sure that we don't leave this out without something concrete done," Sharpton added.
In the cold rain, around 100 protesters flooded Union Square Saturday night, which is hosting the annual holiday market.
No arrests had been made as of 9 p.m., CBS2's Matt Kozar reported.
On Friday night protesters invaded the lanes of FDR Drive for at least an hour as the NYPD tried controlling the crowd.
"If you refuse to leave you will be placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct," an officer told the crowd.
But many refused, and police made 220 arrests overnight, Gold reported.
And it wasn't just on the highway. Others blocked holiday shoppers at Macy's flagship store in Herald Square, making their opinions known on the grand jury decision.
"(Whats the point of coming into Macy's?) We have to let people know. Dr. Martin Luther King said our freedom is intrinsically connected and people don't understand that," said one protester.
The protest created big challenges for shoppers who could barely maneuver through the country's largest department store.
While frustrating for some, others said they appreciated their message.
"I think it is OK that they tell their opinion," one shopper said.
In Union Square, protesters continued to spread their message.
"The guy said he could not breathe. Right there, they should have taken their hands off," said protester Ibrahim Grant.
In an email to officers, Bratton once again praised their performance over the last few days.
"Despite often being confronted by some agitators in the crowd whose only interest is to provoke you, you have displayed professionalism, patience and restraint," he wrote.
The National March Against Police Violence is scheduled for next Saturday. The parents of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown are expected to join Garner's family.
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