As many as 50,000 converge on New York, DC, Chicago and other major cities in Michael Brown and Eric Garner protest, joined by grieving relatives

By Sophie Evans and Kieran Corcoran for MailOnline 19:09 13 Dec 2014, updated 01:18 14 Dec 2014

• At least 25,000 took to the streets in New York City, police confirmed
• Organizers made similar estimates for crowds in Washington, D.C.
• Chicago, Boston and cities in California were also affected by protests
• Marchers waved 'Black Lives Matter' sings in bid to end to police violence 
• Supporters of black men Michael Brown, 18, and Eric Garner turned up
• These included Brown's mother Lesley McSpadden, as well as Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, and Tamir Rice's mother, Samaria
• Garner's widow told crowd: 'Let's keep it strong, long and meaningful' 

Tens of thousands of protesters converged on the nation's major cities today in protest police violence against black men Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

Huge crowds - at least 25,000 in New York City - took to the streets chanting slogans and waving signs. Comparable numbers were observed in Washington, D.C., while other major demonstrations hit Chicago, Boston and cities in California.

The incensed crowd were joined by the relatives of black people shot dead, mainly by white police officers. In Washington, Michael Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden and Eric Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, attended.

New York: Protesters decrying the police marched through New York, with the NYPD reportedly confirming crowd sizes of at least 25,000

Capital: In Washington, D.C., organizers estimated that 25,000 also took to the streets - though local police do not give estimates

Chicago: In Illinois' biggest city there were also sizable demonstrations

Also among the crowd were Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, who was shot by George Zimmerman in Florida, and Samaria Rice, who 12-year-old son was gunned down by police in Cleveland, Ohio, last month. 

Waving signs reading 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Who do you protect? Who do you serve', the crowd gathered in Washington D.C.'s Freedom Plaza, before marching down iconic Pennsylvania Avenue.

They chanted the same words, 'Black lives matter', as they made their way to the U.S. Capitol to call for an end to apparent racial profiling by police. Loud music blasted from a stage set up for the rally.

The 'Justice for All' march, organized by civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton, brought together around 10,000 supporters of two black men: Michael Brown, 18, and 43-year-old Eric Garner.

Scroll down for video 

Relatives together: Michael Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden (second left) and Eric Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, were joined by Sybrina Fulton (second right), the mother of Trayvon Martin, and Samaria Rice (far right), the mother of Tamir Rice, at today's march, which was organized by Rev Al Sharpton (third right)

Rev. Al Sharpton joins thousands of protesters in Washington, D.C.

Demonstrating: Thousands of people were today marching through the nation's capital to protest decisions made by Missouri and New York grand juries not to indict the white officers who killed Garner and Brown

'This stops today': Waving signs reading 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Who do you protect? Who do you serve', the crowd gathered in Washington D.C.'s Freedom Plaza, before marching down iconic Pennsylvania Avenue

High turnout: This photo shows demonstrators marching down Pennsylvania Avenue to the US Capitol today

Brown was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson while unarmed in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, while Garner died when officer Daniel Pantaleo put him in an apparent chokehold in Staten Island.

In both cases, grand juries declined to indict the white officers involved. 

During today's march, Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, and Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, were joined by Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, and Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir Rice.

Martin, a 17-year-old African American, was shot dead by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, in Florida in 2012, while Rice was gunned down by Cleveland police last month. 

Mrs Garner, whose husband died in July, told protesters: 'Let's keep it strong, long and meaningful.'

At one point, the rally was interrupted briefly by more than a dozen protesters who took the stage with a bullhorn. They announced that they were from Ferguson and demanded to speak.

Protest in DC over shootings of unarmed black men by police

Taking to the streets: Mrs Garner told protesters, young and old: 'Let's keep it strong, long and meaningful'

Raising their arms up: At one point, the rally was interrupted briefly by more than a dozen protesters who took the stage with a bullhorn. They announced that they were from Ferguson and demanded to speak

Protesters hold signs referring to witness accounts that Brown had his hands raised in the air when he was shot dead by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9 - something that has been disputed

Large numbers of protesters on the ground supported the group, some chanting, 'Let them speak.'

Ultimately, organizers allowed Johnetta Elzie of St. Louis to address the crowd. 'This movement was started by the young people,' she said. The group, mostly in their 20s, then left the stage.

Organizers called the interruption unnecessarily divisive. But some in the Missouri group said they were disappointed and found the rally staid and ineffective.

'I thought there was going to be actions, not a show. This is a show,' Elzie said.

Sharpton addressed the interruption and told the crowd, 'Don't let no provocateurs get you out of line. ... We are not here to play big shot. We are here to win.'

Getting ready: Lou Phillips holds up his signs before the 'Justice for All' march on Pennsylvania Avenue

Making a statement: Over the past few months, politicians and others have talked about the need for better police training, body cameras and changes in the grand jury process to restore faith in the legal system

Tragic: Brown (left) was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson while unarmed in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, while Garner (right) died when officer Daniel Pantaleo put him in an apparent chokehold

Tragic: Brown (left) was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson while unarmed in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, while Garner (right) died when officer Daniel Pantaleo put him in an apparent chokehold

Then, block after block of tightly packed people moved through the city. Organizers had predicted 5,000 people, but the crowd appeared to be closer to 10,000.

Protests - some violent - have occurred around the nation since grand juries last month declined to indict the officers involved  in the deaths of Brown and Garner.

The latter gasped 'I can't breathe' while being arrested for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes  in Staten Island. Today, some protesters held signs and wore shirts reading: 'I can't breathe.'

Don't let no provocateurs get you out of line. ... We are not here to play big shot. We are here to winRev Al Sharpton 

Over the past few months, politicians and others have talked about the need for better police training, body cameras and changes in the grand jury process to restore faith in the legal system.

Terry Baisden, 52, of Baltimore said she is 'hopeful change is coming' and that the movement is not part of a fleeting flash of anger.

She said she hasn't protested before but felt compelled to because 'changes in action, changes in belief, happen in numbers.'

Meanwhile, Murry Edwards said he made the trip to Washington from St. Louis because he wants to make sure the momentum from the movement in Ferguson reaches a national stage.

'This is the national march,' Edwards said. 'We have to get behind the national movement.'

Sheryce Holloway, a recent graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, attended a smaller gathering outside Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington ahead of the main rally. She said she also has been participating in protests at her alma mater.

Elsewhere: A man shouts slogans against police as he takes part in a march on police brutality  in New York

Angry: Men scream as they hold up placards reading: 'Stop police brutality and murder' in New York

A man wears a rope around his neck as he joins protests over the death of Michael Brown and Eric Garner 

Holloway said the goal of the protests is 'ending blue-on-black crime. Black lives do matter.'

Saturday's march is sponsored in part by the National Action Network, the Urban League and the NAACP. 

At the Capitol, speakers will outline a legislative agenda they want Congress to pursue in relation to police killings.

While protesters rally in Washington, other groups including Ferguson Action will be conducting similar 'Day of Resistance' movements all around the country.

A large march is planned in New York City.

Source http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2872825/Michael-Brown-s-mother-Eric-Garner-s-widow-join-10-000-protesters-marching-Washington-DC-end-police-violence.html