Protests of a grand jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man continued around the country, and authorities said a march in California turned violent when masked demonstrators smashed windows and threw objects at police, the AP reported.
Several businesses were looted and damaged during the march, and officers attempting to get the crowd to disperse used tear gas.
Thousands of demonstrators have protested peacefully in New York and elsewhere since the announcement Wednesday that a grand jury would not indict a white officer in the death of Eric Garner, a black man who gasped “I can’t breathe” while he was being arrested for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.
The decision closely followed a Missouri grand jury’s choice not to indict a white officer in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old.
Protests continued in New York City for a fourth day with several dozen people lying down on the floor of Grand Central Terminal and marching into stores in Times Square.
Protests have also been held in Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and a number of other cities.
In Seattle, several hundred people marched downtown to police headquarters Saturday.
