The Buffalo Police Department monitored several protests happening around the Queen City Thursday night in response to a grand jury's failure to indict an NYPD officer in the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner of Staten Island.
The protests started early Thursday afternoon at several locations, including Bailey Avenue and Kensington Avenue, Bidwell Parkway at Elmwood Avenue, and along Grant Street.
The police department said Thursday night that drivers should avoid these areas if possible because of traffic congestion. Officers expect the protests to be peaceful.
Protesters are upset with a New York City grand jury's decision yesterday not to indict a New York Police Department officer in Garner's death.
Garner died in July following an incident with police that was recorded on a witness's cell phone. Officers had approached him under suspicion he was illegally selling loose cigarettes.
While attempting to take Garner into custody, officers claim Garner resisted arrest and refused to put his hands behind his back to be cuffed. At that time, an officer placed Garner into a choke hold.
Garner was recorded on video saying he could not breathe.
He later died.
