Some of an estimated 25,000 demonstrators march towards Washington's Capitol Hill during the rally to bring attention to the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police. Photo / AP
Some of an estimated 25,000 demonstrators march towards Washington's Capitol Hill during the rally to bring attention to the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police. Photo / AP
In a strong display of unity after the shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, the relatives of African Americans killed by officers in similar incidents dating back more than a decade shared a stage to call on Congress to make changes in the criminal justice system.
Speakingin the cold afternoon air, mothers and fathers of those who were killed said their children were let down by prosecutors and grand juries that did not indict police officers in many of the cases, saying the lawyers have too a relationship to police to fairly represent shooting victims.
On the stage, passing a microphone like a baton, one speaker after another addressed tens of thousands of racially diverse marchers at the Justice for All rally. They vowed to continue protesting until Congress takes action, such as requiring a special prosecutor to investigate controversial police shootings.
"We will come here as many times as it takes," said Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who was killed by an officer who held him in a chokehold as he said, "I can't breathe". A grand jury's decision not to indict the officer shocked liberals and conservatives alike.
The Washington march was one of many that took place across the nation four months after the shooting in Ferguson.
Under the slogan "National Day of Resistance," separate rallies were held in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bloomington, Indiana, and Lexington, Kentucky, part of a groundswell of protests since August.
A "Millions March" in New York started big and grew much bigger within hours, from a densely packed crowd in two city blocks to a mass as far as the eye could see in any direction as the march closed on its destination near New York University. The crowd in New York reflected the city's diversity. "I've never seen something so beautiful," said Josh Toney, an African American man in his 20s. "Seeing the Asian community, seeing union workers, seeing people who probably don't even speak English."
