African American female holding sign "Black Lives Matter" in Washington Square Park.
Grassroots, nonviolent efforts of street protests, following the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Akai Gurley have helped America talk more openly about race and to see meaningful changes in law enforcement practices and accountability mechanisms.
The protesters, who were black, white, Latino, Asian, young and elderly, streamed through New York. They carried protest signs that read “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” and banners that read “Black Lives Matter”.