More on Millions March NYC . . . Gracie Mansion is Next...

Marchers at Union Square. Photos by MK Metz

 Thousands joined the Millions March NYC, which started in Manhattan at Washington Square Park and wound through Union Square on Saturday. By the time darkness fell, the crowd had swelled to between 25,000 to 30,000, according to various news reports.

Senior citizens march for the cause.

The amazing thing was the mixture of all ages and races.

As the evening wore on, some of the protesters stayed in Manhattan, while others streamed over the bridges into Brooklyn.

The mood was good -- until some a**hole got crazy on the Brooklyn Bridge and tried to throw a metal garbage can at police officers. When police went after him, a mini-riot erupted, which ended up with two cops on the ground getting kicked by some of the protesters. One cop's nose was broken.

Marchers coming off the Brooklyn Bridge walkway onto Tillary St.

Arrested for fomenting the melee was Eric Linsker, an adjunct English professor at Baruch College.

According to the University of Iowa Press, "Eric Linsker holds degrees from Harvard and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His poems have appeared in Boston Review, Chicago Review, Conjunctions, and Lana Turner. " He lives in Crown Heights.

According to CBS, Linsker's attorney called the charges bogus.

Police net at Tillary and Brooklyn Bridge Blvd.

After marchers exited the Brooklyn Bridge, a police net caused them to head up Tillary Street to Flatbush. All traffic ground to a halt while the street was filled with chanting protesters.

Protestors march right up Tillary to Flatbush. Photos by MK Metz

The group split up -- some marched along Atlantic, some on Smith Street -- and then recombined at Barclays Center for a couple of different die-ins.

According to the Brooklyn Eagle, police estimated that 2,000 demonstrators participated in the largest one. Another group, estimated at 1,500 by police, held a die-in in the middle of Eastern Parkway near Nostrand.

What's next? Word is protesters are unhappy that Mayor de Blasio refuses to meet with a group of them -- so they're going to the Mayor... tonight.

Next up!!! Join us for the party!! #MansionShutdown pic.twitter.com/TbauN4mLfP
— Justice League NYC (@NYjusticeleague) December 15, 2014

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Wild Night at Barclays Center for the Duke and Duchess: Royal Shutdown

Photo © 2014  MK Metz

 A heck of a die-in took place at Barclays Center Monday night as protesters against the Eric Garner grand jury decision pulled a "Royal Shutdown" while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were inside attending a Nets game.

"I can't breathe!" protesters chanted, in memory of Eric Garner, who told that same thing to cops before he died following a possible choke hold. Photo © 2014  MK Metz

 Cops made a number of arrests as they corralled demonstrators who tied up traffic and invaded Target at the Atlantic Center Mall.

The crowds marched over the Manhattan Bridge around midnight and blocked traffic on Broadway, then headed helter-skelter across lower Manhattan to Union Square.

Protests will be continuing all week, with a Million  March NYC planned for Saturday.

More here.


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Another Wild Night of Eric Garner Protests in NYC

What if they all just sold loosies in protest? @JohnGGalt: BREAKING PHOTO:Brooklyn Bridge completely full #EricGarner pic.twitter.com/vLgF6q7mZQ
— Will Gaston (@wpgaston) December 5, 2014

Large groups of marchers protesting the Eric Garner grand jury decision have been disrupting spots across the city, from the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge to Union Square to 1 Police Plaza to midtown.

Earlier, police arrested 16 at the Manhattan Bridge, part of a group of roughly 100 that hit the bridge around 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

Around midnight, there were reports that protestors were destroying property at Reade Street and Church Street.

 At 1 a.m. Friday, police dispatch said at least two groups of marchers were milling around 57-58th streets and headed from 6th to 7th Ave. in Manhattan. One group had about 100 marchers; a nearby group had 200.

P.O. said, "We have to corral these guys."

At the same time, at 51st Street and 8th Ave, a police officer had difficulty breathing and briefly went unconscious (around 1 a.m. Friday morning). Dispatch announced at 1:10 a.m. that  he had regained consciousness and became alert.

Police officer fainted at West 51 St & 8th Ave. Appears to be okay. Taken to the hospital #EricGarner Via @ShimonPro https://t.co/6OTojaZ7gV
— New York City Alerts (@NYCityAlerts) December 5, 2014

Stephan Keegan reported via Twitter that a call is out for marchers to head to Gracie Mansion.

"Mass arrests" are ongoing, according to Breaking911.  Police have brought in white Corrections buses.

At 1:25 a.m., a group going east on Madison at 57th Street was reported to be throwing garbage intothe street. Tweeter Adam T. James reported a "riot" and cops with mace.

PHOTO: Dozens of people in handcuffs are being booked at NYPD booth in Times Square. #EricGarner - @MedinaMora pic.twitter.com/rgW8M1vEPK
— Nancy Hennen (@tweetbrk) December 5, 2014

Another group of 200 was reported at 61th and Lexington headed northbound.  Police hope to split the group into smaller, more managable segments.

At 1:35 a.m., another group was headed for the Triboro Bridge.

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Eric Garner Protesters Shut Down Brooklyn Bridge

Photo: MK Metz

Marchers protesting the grand jury's failure to indict the police officer who choked Eric Garner shut down the Brooklyn Bridge around midnight Wednesday night.

A very large number of police vehicles surrounded the marchers as they walked over the bridge. Many sat down on the Brooklyn-bound roadway.

David Mack ‏tweeted: "'They can't arrest us all. There's too many of us,' another #EricGarner protester yells to Brooklyn Bridge crowd."

"They can't arrest us all. There's too many of us," another #EricGarner protester yells to Brooklyn Bridge crowd. pic.twitter.com/z3vig20K9W
— David Mack (@davidmackau) December 4, 2014

But it appears they are arresting many.

According to NYPD dispatchers, the Queensborough Bridge was also shut down --  along with  the Lincoln Tunnel, Grand Central and West Side Highway.

Protesters in #NYC storm the Brooklyn Bridge https://t.co/xegNTmjmcA #EricGarner
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2014

Around 1 a.m. Thursday morning the marchers poured onto Tillary, then procededed to Flatbush Ave.

The Brooklyn Bridge remained closed while those arrested were loaded into police vehicles.

Around 1:30 a.m., marchers were at Atlantic Ave. and Flatbush; the bridge was not yet fully open.

UPDATE: The Brooklyn-bound side of the Brooklyn Bridge has now been reopened. (Manhattan-bound is closed due to bridge work.)

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