42 demonstrators arrested in New York while protesting police violence

UNION SQUARE (WABC) -- Forty-two arrests were made Tuesday night after hundreds of protesters gathered in Union Square to denounce what they called police brutality, citing the deaths of unarmed black and Latino men at the hands of police.

There were 15 arrests in Manhattan, while 27 were made in Downtown Brooklyn. Charges range from obstructing governmental administration; climbing, jumping or suspending oneself from a structure; reckless endangerment in the second degree; resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

After the rally, they marched on Broadway and then to the Brooklyn Bridge, where they partially blocked traffic.

There were scrums between protesters and police in several places in Brooklyn, with police trying to reclaim the streets that were taken, for a time at least, taken by a decidedly anti-police crowd.

On the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, protesters blocked inbound traffic at the height of rush hour and it took about a half hour for police to restore that. And then at Flatbush and Atlantic, some from the group just sat down in the intersection.

"If you refuse to leave, you will be arrested for disorderly conduct," an officer said.

At one point, police tried to corral the group with netting, but that didn't quite work and they soon gave up on that idea.

Two police officers were injured, but both are stable.

An off-duty NYPD sergeant stopped in traffic due to the protests got out of his car to see what was going on. That's when a man approached the sergeant and brushed up against him. The sergeant pushed him away and the suspect swung at the sergeant. The sergeant identified himself as a police officer and then he was punched and assaulted. He suffered bruising to his face and arms and was taken to Beekman Downtown Hospital. Two suspects fled scene.

Another police officer was struck by a bottle in Crown Heights by a protester.

Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement saying, "Reports this evening that two of our NYPD officers were assaulted by protestors reminds us that here in New York City, violence or threats of violence against the police are unacceptable and will absolutely not be tolerated. These attacks will be thoroughly investigated, and we will urge the full prosecution of the perpetrators. And any other person who might use the right to peaceful protest as cover to initiate violence, cause mayhem or incite disorder - whether against the police, the people or property of our great City - should consider themselves on notice that New York City will not stand for it. Anyone who decides foolishly to engage in such destructive acts can expect a swift arrest and aggressive prosecution. As I have said before, such activity is beneath the dignity of New York City."

The protest was one of 28 being held at locations across the country.

Organizers of the group, called 'National Actions to Stop Murder By Police', said more than 90 unarmed people have been killed by police since the start of 2015.

"The point is that business as usual in this country includes police murdering people and getting away with it," said Carl Dix, one of the protest organizers. "And business as usual has got to be stopped."

The protesters referred to the deaths of Eric Garner in Staten Island, Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Walter Scott in South Carolina, among others.

The group was joined by family members of some of the victims.