Protesters March In Philadelphia Following Ferguson Grand Jury Decision
By Natasha Brown, Justin Udo, Jan Carabeo, David Spunt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The grand jury in the investigation into the shooting death of Michael Brown has announced its decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of the unarmed 18-year-old.
Protesters first gathered at City Hall in Philadelphia, then spiraled around the streets of Center City in protest of the grand jury decision in Ferguson.
From calls for justice and peace, to a collective gasp, raw emotion from many in the crowd gathered at City Hall just moments after hearing the grand jury announcement in Ferguson, Missouri.
PHOTOS: Protesters March In Philadelphia Following Ferguson Grand Jury Decision
Scores of Philadelphia police officers shadowed the crowd at City Hall of a few hundred people as they flooded Market Street, heading for the Federal Courthouse.
"I personally don't agree with it and everyone who is marching out here for this exact reason doesn't agree with it," a protester said.
"I think it's a sad day in America. This announcement proves that the life of a black man in America is worthless. I think that there's a lot of work here that needs to be done," Morgan Flash said.
With a heavy police presence, protesters peacefully marched up and down Market Street.
And while they demonstrated, Mayor Michael Nutter voiced his disdain, saying he was disgusted with how this case in Ferguson was handled.
"They have botched this entire tragedy so badly from start to finish," Mayor Nutter said.
Mayor Nutter thanked demonstrators in Philadelphia for their non-violent protests and he thanked police for their non-aggressive presence.
"Our hearts and our thoughts and our prayers and deepest condolences continue to be expressed to the family of Michael Brown," said Nutter.
Around 10 p.m., protesters marched down Broad Street, then down South Street and to Columbus Boulevard.
'When everyone cares about something, you really have to pay attention to it, so I think that it's important now more than ever for everyone to come together, not just watch, actually care about something together," Audrey Metzman said.
"I've never realized how many people could come together in a time of need and that's what happened. You have people of all race, age, gender, you know they're all here together and we're here for one purpose," Delphine Matthews said.
Philadelphia Police took two people into custody overnight for creating a traffic hazard.
Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan said bicycle police had to intervene after two protesters tried to hop onto I-95.
"I would anticipate one individual being charged, because that individual did enter onto 95 and kneel down in the running lanes of 95, creating an extremely hazardous situation," Sullivan said. "A female bicycle officer had to herself enter the running lanes of 95 and pull that person to safety."
Overall, Sullivan said, it was a night that protesters and police could be proud of.
Police say they expect more protests on Tuesday, but they are prepared to handle them.
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