Protest over police shootings held in Times Square, Union Square

TIMES SQUARE (WABC) -- A large group of people protesting police shootings has marched into Times Square, tying up traffic in Midtown.

The group started in Union Square as part of the National Moment of Silence to protest recent incidents of alleged police brutality, including the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. Vigils are being held across the country and they all started at 7 p.m.

Well over 1,000 people then marched north to Times Square. Police have allowed them to protest and the march has been peaceful.

The group is chanting, "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" while marching.

Dozens of police officers are in Times Square trying to control the crowd. The group stopped in front of the NYPD precinct house in Times Square, and then kept marching.

A large group of protesters were corralled by police at 42nd Street and 9th Avenue. Police officers formed a line and prevented them from marching any further. The rest of the protesters have dispersed.

Police have the group confined behind an orange net on the sidewalk. Police are telling the group if they disperse in an orderly manner, they will not be arrested. Police are letting people leave in small groups.

A few people have been arrested.

The vigil in Union Square was one of a number of local protests. Others were held in Morningside Park in Manhattan, Fulton Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Baisley Pond Park in Jamaica, and Newark City Hall.