Rally for justice being held in Brooklyn one year after Eric Garner's death

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN (WABC) -- Protesters held a rally in Brooklyn Saturday calling for justice for Eric Garner, one year after he died in an apparent police chokehold.

Members of Garner's family joined Rev. Al Sharpton and several hundred people to demand a federal investigation into his death.

The rally to demand justice and reformation of the justice system was held in front of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Downtown Brooklyn. The family wants the U.S. Attorney to pursue a federal civil rights case.

Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, said she would never stop fighting for her husband.

Organizers also called for a federal probe into the death of Ramarley Graham, a black Bronx teenager fatally shot by a white police officer in 2012.

A memorial through music was held Friday night for Garner at the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn. His mother was surrounded by the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.

"Remember my son and all the mothers' sons. We're all grieving. It's not just about my son, it's about all of the stolen lives," said Gwen Carr, Garner's mother.

Garner died after he was stopped for selling untaxed cigarettes.

A viral video of the arrest shows Garner saying "I can't breathe" while in an apparent police chokehold.

In Columbus Circle, people marched demanding justice for Garner, saying something needs to change.

Later Friday, some demonstrators roved through parts of Manhattan.

A gathering around Herald Square prompted a message from the city's public-notification system that the protests were intermittently closing streets. Police said some arrests made been made during the demonstrations, but the number of arrests and other details were still being gathered late Friday night.

And in Harlem, another church vigil was held to call attention to police brutality.

Earlier Friday, Garner's 1-year-old daughter Legacy and her mother Jewel Miller released a white dove in his memory at the spot where he died in Tompkinsville, Staten Island.

Miller said that a year later justice has been elusive, and there is still little trust between police and the community. But she said she would share her warm memories of Eric with her daughter.

"I'm just gonna let her know all the beautiful memories about her dad," she said. "I'm gonna tell her her history and all the memories of the last three and a half years we spent, and what's about to come in the future."

On Sunday, Garner's annual "Give Back" barbecue will be held from approximately 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Bay Street, near Tompkinsville Park, Staten Island.

Also Sunday morning, on "Up Close" at 11 a.m. Bill Ritter will talk with Garner's mother and his daughter, and Rev. Al Sharpton.

It's an emotional conversation about how, one year later, progress is being made in police community relations.

Garner's death led to demonstrations in New York and across the country, and an intense focus on police departments and public safety.

Garner's family reached a nearly $6 million settlement with New York City over the death that bitterly divided the city, and became the first of several controversial civilian deaths at the hands of police.

(Some information from the Associated Press.)