On Saturday, December 14, 2014, tens of thousands of Americans invested in fighting police brutality and promoting justice converged on Washington Square Park, marching up to 31st street and then down to the Civic Center to rally in front of the NYPD headquarters. Many Princeton students were lucky enough to be part of this important moment in history. Protestors chanted until their voices became hoarse: “No justice! / No peace! / No racist police!“
Princeton students and company convene at the IFC theatre on West 4th Street, preparing signs and gear for the day.
Marchers fuel up before the start of hours of walking, flooding the McDonald’s blocks away from Washington Square Park.
Around 2 p.m., marchers begin to flood Washington Square Park. People enter from all sides of the park, converging on the park’s iconic arch.
Students were urged to wear Princeton gear by donors who paid for transportation costs to show that Princeton as an institution stands in solidarity with the movement.
A young protester on her father’s shoulders.
Tourists marvel at the activist spirit and verve of New Yorkers.
Lily Gellman (’17) protests in Washington Square Park.
Marchers slowly move through the arch, holding signs and chanting “Black lives matter!”
A protestor proudly holds her sign.
After the microphones of some organizers stop working, a marcher invigorates the crowd, yelling that he does not “need no microphone” to keep protesting.
One of the thousands of faces in the crowd.
One of the thousands of faces in the crowd.
One of the thousands of faces in the crowd. Instead of chanting, this protestor bangs on a drum labeled sporadically with stickers. One sticker reads “Queers for Economic Justice.”
One of the thousands of faces in the crowd.
A protestor beseeches her fellow Asian-Americans to stand up and help “bear the burden…”
A NYPD officer looks on as the march progresses past the arch of Washington Square Park.
Two NYPD officers look on at the march. A popular chant heard throughout the event is “How do you spell racist? / N-Y-P-D!”
A protestor sits on the banister of a rowhouse and looks on at the march, holding up her sign.
One of the marshals of the events exchanges a few words with a marcher.
As the march progresses miles from Washington Square Park to midtown, people continue their workdays.
A protester holds up a hooded effigy with a target on its face.
Protestors of all ages stand along the sidewalk of the march, showing support with various signs.
Protestors march along as people buy and sell Christmas decorations.
Some protestors bring signs urging people to remember other social justice issues that intersect with the struggle of black Americans.
From left to right, Lacey Wisdom (’17), Andrew Sondern (’15), and Tyler House (’15) participate in the march.
Achille Tenkiang (’17) blows a whistle, leading a chant that he and friends created: “The whole damn system is guilty as hell! / Indict! / Convict! / Send those killers cops to jail!”
From left to right, Josh Leifer (’17), Rachel Stone (’17) and Hannah Srajer (’17) participate in the protest.
Philomina Kane (’17) leads a chant.
Wilglory Tanjong (’18), one of the organizers for the group of Princeton students attending the event, chants along with the crowd.
Residents and workers shout from out of the windows of their high rises in solidarity with the protest.
Marchers and press climb up on phone booths and trash cans to get better coverage.
Workers take pictures of the protest, one of whom gives a thumbs-up to the crowd.
Some marchers hand out water and food to those who have been walking for nearly three hours in near-freezing temperatures.
Night descends and the protest continues. A man climbs on top of a phone booth and waves a massive back flag, inscribed with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
The official march leads to a rally around 6 p.m next to the US District Court and NY Police Headquarters. Even though this rally is dispersed after approximately 45 minutes, protestors continue to roam the streets.
Protestors disperse from the rally at the Police Headquarters. Many leave the signs that they held the entire day on police cars. Some read “ENOUGH” and “I don’t apologize for my blackness and your fear …” Other protestors continue on to the Brooklyn Bridge, halting traffic.
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