5 Dec 2014

Eric Garner death sparks fresh protests

At least five are arrested as protesters continued to march through New York City to protest against a grand jury decision not to indict a police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner.

Warning: this footage contains flashing images.

Thursday marked the second day of protests after the grand jury decided not to charge police officer Daniel Pantaleo who used a chokehold to restrain Mr Garner while trying to arrest him.

Protesters were seen waving banners which read “I can’t breathe” – Mr Garner’s last words.

New York police said 83 were arrested during Wednesday’s protests, where thousands walked onto streets, lay on the ground in Grand Central Terminal, blocked the Lincoln Tunnel and Brooklyn Bridge and even tried to stop a Christmas lighting ceremony at the Rockefeller Center.

Watch: 'New York is Ferguson' say protesters over death of Eric Garner

Mr Garner, a 43-year-old father of six, died on 17 July after police officers attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes on Staten Island.

Eric Garner protest

Amid the tensions US attorney general Eric Holder presented the results of an investigation into police in Cleveland, Ohio, prompted by several highly-publicised police encounters, some of them deadly.

The Justice Department report said Cleveland police use excessive and unnecessary force far too often, were poorly trained in tactics and firearm use and endangered the public and fellow officers with their recklessness.

Human rights activists have called for a protest march in Washington D.C. on 13 December and planned for a human rights summit later.

In Phoenix, Arizona, protesters planned a vigil and march against a separate fatal shooting by a white police officer that involved another black, unarmed drug suspect.