Hundreds gathered in New York City’s Times Square on Thursday evening to protest the recent killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, and several were reportedly arrested. The crowd was heard chanting "Black Lives Matter"and "Hey Hey! Ho ho! These racist cops have got to go!" as the NYPD watched on, warning protestors not to block the public streets.
Massive sit-in has shut down 42nd & 7th in heart of Midtown. #BlackLivesMatter #ShutItDown #Alton #Delwarn #Philando pic.twitter.com/XgfUstu2Bo
Times Square. #PhilandoCastile pic.twitter.com/t7umBG3dOf
NYPD dispersal order in times Square pic.twitter.com/jLjiroiYMc
NYPD clearly preparing for action on north side of intersection at 7th/42nd. Manual announcement for press to clear pic.twitter.com/UiLYKmNkfd
More arrests just made as NYPD push down 7th Ave pic.twitter.com/XWzTXCiPcu
Better video of NYPD arrests at 42nd and 7th pic.twitter.com/RnuFPIxATy
Found another live broadcast from a #blacklivesmatter protest at Times Square ... @Marl0n on #Periscope https://t.co/jQkNXV632w
The massive sit-in nearly shut down the busy intersection at 42nd and Broadway, and officers soon stepped in to break things up. There are reports of forceful shoving by police, and several were arrested and loaded onto MTA buses. A crowd soon gathered around the bus to chant "Let them go!"
Crowd gathered around MTA bus containing arrestees, chanting "Let them go!" #BlackLivesMatter #ShutItDown pic.twitter.com/sNs5XkBCNx
Protesters also gathered in Union Square, but no arrests have been reported so far.
Black Lives Matter protest in Union Square over the deaths of #AltonSterling & #PhilandoCastile. pic.twitter.com/MifWXJtt8E
This is from earlier today -- heading to Times Square. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/3flL8CfGBz
Protesters also chanting "Hands Up! Don't shoot!"
You can catch a live stream of the event here. Sterling died on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, La. after police shot him multiple times in the chest and back. Officers were called to a local convenience store after an anonymous report said he had been brandishing a gun while selling CD's outside. Witness footage shows several officers pinning him to the ground as they opened fire. Sterling's young son also witnessed the shooting and was seen on video crying for his father.
A day later in Minnesota, Castile was killed by an officer in front of girlfriend Lavish Reynolds and her four-year-old daughter after being pulled over for an alleged busted tail light. Reynolds livestreamed the aftermath, which shows the officer yelling and pointing his gun in the car as Castile bled to death. She says the officers asked for license and registration and when Castile (who revealed he was licensed and carrying a gun) reached into his pocket, the officer opened fire. Reynolds was then placed in handcuffs and taken to jail. before getting released Thursday morning.
