Eric Garner Case: Protests in Major U.S. Cities for Second Night

Updated: December 4, 2014 8:29 PM [ET] | Originally published: December 4, 2014 8:29 PM EST;

Thousands of protesters gathered in major U.S. cities for a second night Thursday to rally against recent grand jury decisions against indicting white police officers in the deaths of black men, blocking major highways in New York City and Chicago, and staging “die-ins” in public areas.

The demonstrations came the same day New York’s mayor announced a citywide police retraining program, after a grand jury decided Wednesday not to indict a white NYPD officer in the death of Eric Garner.

In New York City, 200 people were arrested as protestors streamed onto the Brooklyn Bridge and shut down parts of the West Side Highway. Chicago demonstrators halted traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway, while in Washington D.C. protestors attempted to upstage the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony near the White House with a “die-in” – lying in the street as if they had been shot.

Witness Protesters Taking Over the Streets After the Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision

Police Chokehold Death — A group of protesters rally against a grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner occupy the eastbound traffic lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City in the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2014.Jason DeCrow—AP

People Protest No Indictment in Eric Garner Chokehold Case — Protestors block 15th Street near Pennsylvania Avenue to protest the Staten Island grand jury's decision not to indict officer Daniel Pantaleo in the Eric Garner chokehold case in Washington on Dec. 3, 2014.Jim Lo Scalzo—EPA

Grand Jury Declines To Indict NYPD Officer In Eric Garner Death — Demonstrators march through the streets of New York City on Dec. 3, 2014. Andrew Burton—Getty Images

Protests Erupt Across Country After Grand Jury Does Not Indict NYPD Officer Over Chokehold Death — Regina Bates speaks during a demonstration in Oakland, Calif. on Dec. 3, 2014. Elijah Nouvelage—Getty Images

Police stand guard on the West Side highway as protesters block traffic after the jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner in New York — Police stand guard on the West Side highway as protesters block traffic in New York City on Dec. 3, 2014. Shannon Stapleton—Reuters

Demonstrators Gather In Philadelphia To Protest Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision — Anwar Thurston, 36, joined demonstrators who gathered to protest the Eric Garner grand jury decision during a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at City Hall in Philadelphia on Dec. 3, 2014.Mark Makela—Getty Images

BESTPIX - Demonstrators Gather In Philadelphia To Protest Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision — A demonstrator cries while gathering to protest the Eric Garner grand jury decision during a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at City Hall in Philadelphia on Dec. 3, 2014.Mark Makela—Getty Images

US-ERIC-GARNER-PROTEST — Protestors lay down in Grand Central Station during a protest in New York City on Dec. 3, 2014.Timothy A. Clary—AFP/Getty Images

People take part in a protest against the grand jury decision on the death of Eric Garner in midtown Manhattan in New York City on Dec. 3, 2014. Eric Thayer—Reuters

NYC reacts to Eric Garner Grand Jury decision — Protesters raise their arms and chant at police officers in Times Square in New York City on Dec. 3, 2014. Caitlin Ochs—Polaris

US-CRIME-POLICE-RACE-UNREST — Demonstrators march in protest on the streets of St. Louis on Dec. 3, 2014. Michael B. Thomas—AFP/Getty Images

A man holding a child walks past protesters demanding justice for the death of Eric Garner in Manhattan — A man holding a child walks with protesters as they march past Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Dec. 3, 2014. Adrees Latif—Reuters

People Protest over no indictment in Eric Garner's chokehold case in Atlanta, Georgia — Atlanta Police face off with protesters blocking Spring Street in Atlanta on Dec. 3, 2014. Erik S. Lesser—EPA

A demonstrator stands next to makeshift memorial where Eric Garner died during arrest in July in Staten Island borough of New York — A demonstrator stands next to a makeshift memorial where Eric Garner died during an arrest in July in the Staten Island borough of New York City on Dec. 3, 2014. Shannon Stapleton—Reuters

Garner died in July after officer Daniel Pantaleo subdued him with a chokehold, an aggressive move that is banned by the New York Police Department. Pantaleo has reportedly denied using an illegal maneuver.

Wednesday’s grand jury announcement, which came just over a week after a similar outcome in the Ferguson, Mo., case involving teenager Michael Brown, sparked an immediate outcry and led a number of activists and elected officials to demand a federal investigation.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Wednesday that the Justice Department had opened a civil rights inquiry into the incident, which was caught on video and later went viral.

MORE: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces Police Retraining Program

As footage of the rallies filled news segments Thursday evening, with many protesters chanting Garner’s final words “I can’t breathe,” his mother Gwen Carr opened up about her reaction to the grand jury’s decision not to indict Pantaleo.

“I couldn’t believe that they came back and didn’t come back with probable cause to bring this case to trial. I couldn’t even answer a phone call,” she told CNN. “I just wonder… what video was they watching? Because obviously it wasn’t the one the whole world was watching.”

Carr said she does not accept Pantaleo’s apology. “He was choking him and my son was begging for his life. That was the time for the apology. He should have got up off of him and let him breathe… I would have still had my son,” she added. “He has no regard for human life if this is the way he treats suspects.”

She hopes that Pantaleo will still face charges in federal court.

Protesters Rally for Second Night Against Decision in Eric Garner Case

Witness Protesters Taking Over the Streets After the Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision

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