‘I am Tamir’: Streets, Brooklyn Bridge shut down in NYC after shooter of 12yo Rice walks free
Angry at a Cleveland grand jury for failing to indict a white police officer in the shooting death of Tamir Rice, a black 12-year-old, crowds gathered in New York City to protest the decision, while blocking streets and the Brooklyn Bridge.
'Tragedy, not crime' - Grand jury declines to indict officer in fatal shooting of 12yo Tamir Rice
Despite freezing hail, dozens of people had flocked to Washington Square Park by 6:30 pm local time for a protest in solidarity with Tamir Rice and his family.
#NYCRiseUp4Tamir taking up Broadway, Canal, Brooklyn Bridge in the freezing hail tonight: "march on with no fear, we do this for Tamir."
— Diane Wong (@XpertDemon) December 29, 2015
The black child was shot dead by police officer Timothy Loehmann in Cleveland, Ohio last year on November 22. The alleged gun that Tamir was holding turned out to be a toy.
Retweeted JamesFromTheInternet (@JamesFTInternet):
Shutting down Broadway and Canal in #NYC for #TamirRice!... https://t.co/nhaxLDdSLF
— Conspiracy eXaminer (@Conspiracy_X) December 29, 2015
Making their way down Broadway and towards the Brooklyn Bridge, protesters demanded that the shooter face justice, while chanting anti-police slogans and encouraging the movement to continue.
“We are doing this for Tamir. March on without fear,” protesters shouted.
RT @AshAgony NYC: #TamirRice response march heading to Brooklyn Bridge. pic.twitter.com/ATKtB4AGz3
— Revolution News (@NewsRevo) December 29, 2015
One of the slogans at Monday’s rally was “I am Tamir Rice.”
No justice, no peace! #TamirRice#NYCRiseUp4Tamirpic.twitter.com/8Grhdd3epm
— Alexandra Rosenmann (@alexpreditor) December 29, 2015
The march was organized by an anti-police-violence group known as NYC Shut It Down (aka Grand Central Crew). It was put together shortly after the announcement that a Cleveland grand jury had decided not to indict Loehmann.
TONIGHT #NYCRiseUp4Tamir#TamirRice 630pm WSP pic.twitter.com/Wg9ogb5pjQ
— Cleo (@ArmintaSade) December 28, 2015
The policeman insisted that he had a “mistaken, yet reasonable belief” that Rice would shoot when the teenager pulled the replica gun from his waistband. However, both Rice’s family and activists accuse police of bias and the prosecution of manipulating the jury’s vote.
12yo boy shot dead. Killer cops walk free. Had he been white he'd still be alive. #NYCRiseUp4Tamir#TamirRicepic.twitter.com/O95CtJN686
— Mario Cornejo (@mrcrnj) December 29, 2015
Brooklyn Bridge shut down in #NYC for #TamirRice#BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/iRqoKyIBah
— JamesFromTheInternet (@JamesFTInternet) December 29, 2015
After crossing the Bridge, protesters continued into the streets of Brooklyn.
Walking through the streets of #Brooklyn#NYCRiseUp4Tamir#BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/0IfN07PGTJ
— Mia Y Anderson (@actressnoir) December 29, 2015
No arrests have been reported, as the protest was peaceful.
No arrests & all safe from tonight's response action #NYCRiseUp4Tamir
— BlackLivesMatterNYC (@BLMNYC) December 29, 2015
In Cleveland, the grand jury’s decision was protested outside the Cudell Recreation Center and activists blocked streets across the city.
In addition, the Black Lives Matter movement set up a “healing space” at an East Side church for members of the black community, Cleveland.com reported.