Protesters march through Manhattan
NEW YORK (AP) -- About 100 protesters have been marching through midtown Manhattan, tying up evening rush-hour traffic.
They were heading from Times Square in the direction of Rockefeller Center, where a big tree-lighting ceremony is being held.
The tree lighting comes just hours after a grand jury decided not to indict a police officer in a man's videotaped chokehold death. Mayor Bill de Blasio canceled his planned appearance at the tree lighting to meet with elected officials and activists on Staten Island while citywide protests started to gather steam.
Protesters chanted "Black lives matter" as dozens of police officers, some on scooters, looked on.
Earlier, Times Square protester Meredith Reitman of Queens said she feels "horrified" and cried when she learned of the grand jury's decision.
Reitman, who is white, carried a sign that said "white silence equals white consent."