On December 4, thousands of protestors flooded the streets downtown Boston to protest against the non-indictment of Daniel Pantaleo, a white police officer who choked unarmed black man, Eric Garner to death.
Throughout the evening, activists staged multiple “die-in” demonstrations, temporarily disrupting traffic. Similar demonstrations have been seen in cities across the nation, such as New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and San Francisco.
The initial “die-in” lasted 11 minutes. Each minute symbolized the number of times 43-year-old father Eric Garner gasped, “I can’t breathe!” as he was forcibly held down in a subsequently fatal chokehold.
A young protestor gazes upwards during the 11 minute silent commemoration for the lives of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Tamir Rice.
Protestors make their way towards Boston’s North End. The largely peaceful protest resulted in 10 arrests by the State Police and the Boston police, said a spokesperson.
As protestors flooded Boston’s streets, cars were held at a stand-still. Here, two passengers raise their hands. They reference the now iconic “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture seen in earlier protests against the non-indictment of Darren Wilson, a police officer tried for fatally shooting Ferguson teenager Michael Brown. Many other drivers supported Boston protestors by honking to the rhythm of the chants, while others held out their hands to exchange high-fives with the protestors.
Harvard students join in chanting “Black Lives Matter!” prior to a second “die-in” demonstration. On December 3, almost 200 Harvard students rallied outside of Harvard’s University Hall to protest the recent Ferguson Decision.