Protesters march in Manhattan demanding justice for Freddie Gray; at least 140 arrests
UNION SQUARE -- More than 140 people were arrested after protesters gathered in Union Square Wednesday night to demand justice in the death of Freddie Gray, the man who died while in police custody in Baltimore.
The protesters then moved throughout Manhattan, shutting down several streets along the way.
According to the New York City Police Department, 143 people were arrested, most receiving desk appearance tickets. Protesters were taken to Police Headquarters and released pending a court date.
A look at the New York protests Wed. night:
Felony charges will be filed against a handful, including those involved in the assault of an NYPD captain, the commanding officer of the 13th Precinct.
The Justice League is calling for Mayor Bill de Blasio to "denounce the NYPD's actions."
An estimated 1,000 people gathered at Union Square for the rally, then marched west on East 17th Street toward Fifth Avenue.
The group was on East 17th Street about halfway down the block when police took a stand and ordered protesters to get on the sidewalk. Before the march, while the group was in Union Square, police handed out flyers and used loudspeakers to warn protesters that they would be arrested if they didn't stay on the sidewalk.
Those that refused started pushing and shoving with police officers. At least two officers were injured in the ruckus. Police with batons pushed the crowd back onto the sidewalk.
At a news conference Thursday, Mayor de Blasio defended the actions of the NYPD. "There are some individuals who want to spark a confrontation and we won't let them do it," said the mayor. "It's not fair to everyone else, it's not legal, it's not appropriate, we will not put anyone in danger. We're certainly going to defend our officers who are there to keep the peace and ensure that peaceful protests can proceed."
"Throughout that rally we had public address systems advising people that if they were going to march, they would have to march on the sidewalk," said NYPD Department Chief James O'Neill. "That is somewhat negotiable. If it is a large group, maybe we will consider give you a lane in traffic. But we advised them not to block traffic, and not to go the wrong way on the avenues and the streets. So as they came out at 17th and Broadway, that's where we made the first arrests."
Protesters also converged at the entrance to the Holland Tunnel, and the tunnel was shut down outbound as police blocked off the entrance for about an hour. There were several groups of protesters marching throughout Lower Manhattan, Times Square and Midtown.
They chanted "no justice, no peace" and "hands up, don't shoot" as dozens of police officers watched.
Organizers say the rally was meant to show solidarity with people in Baltimore. "The game plan is to make sure people are politicized about the issues that are happening in terms of police brutality," said one organizer. "What's happening not only in communities in Baltimore, but in Brooklyn and Harlem and across the country."
Demonstrations were also held in Boston and Minneapolis Wednesday night, while in Baltimore, a group of protesters marched to City Hall to protest Gray's death, chanting "Tell the truth. Stop the lies. Freddie Gray didn't have to die."
The rallies come as authorities try to maintain calm in Baltimore following the riots that rocked the city on Monday.
Police also revealed that a report on the death of Gray will not be released to the public on Friday as promised.
Authorities say Maryland's attorney general may file charges so the integrity of the investigation needs to be protected.
State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby is expected to get investigative findings from police on Gray's death, and will then have to decide whether and how to pursue charges against the six police officers who arrested Gray.
