200 Arrests in NYC Police Chokehold Death Protest

New York City Police have arrested more than 200 people protesting a grand jury decision to not indict a white officer who killed Eric Garner, a black citizen, with a chokehold earlier this year.

MOSCOW, December 5 (Sputnik) – 200 people have been arrested by New York City Police in overnight protesting of a grand jury’s decision not to indict officers involved in the choke hold death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man.

Many of the arrests involved charges for disorderly conduct and refusal to clear the streets, ABC News quotes authorities as saying.

Pictures of the day: Police make arrests at #EricGarner protests in New York (AP) http://t.co/PsuKlovTvc pic.twitter.com/osT4CmruIN

— Telegraph Pictures (@TelegraphPics) December 5, 2014

The protesters gathered in downtown Manhattan's Foley Square and chanted "I can't breathe" and "No justice, no peace", in support of the victim.

The crowd then marched across the Brooklyn Bridge, carrying replicas of coffins.

Amazing photo of Brooklyn Bridge last night during #EricGarner protests. http://t.co/XnH2McPz2Z pic.twitter.com/F4dmsdoJMw

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) December 5, 2014

Another group has reportedly started in Harlem.

The protesters have briefly clashed with police in Times Square but reports say the situation is now under control.

The marchers also disrupted traffic near the Holland Tunnel, the Manhattan Bridge and on the Westside Highway.