NEW YORK (TheBlaze/AP) — As protests of a grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner continued around the country, one march in California turned violent.
Demonstrators toss out smoke bombs during a march in Berkeley, California on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. Two officers were injured Saturday night as a California protest over police killings turned violent with protesters smashing windows and throwing rocks and bricks at police, who responded by firing tear gas, authorities said. Demonstrators were responding to the grand jury verdicts in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York City by local police officers in their communities. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Sam Wolson)
CNN reported that 200 demonstrators took to Berkeley's streets and early Sunday morning, some of them began smashing windows and lobbing bottle and rocks at the police, injuring two officers.
Demonstrators react as they were being push by by the police on Telegraph Ave during a demonstration over recent grand jury decisions in police-involved deaths on December 7, 2014 in Berkeley, California. A Staten Island, New York grand jury declined on Wednesday to indict New York City Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. (Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
A woman is being tended to after she fell in a scuffle with the police on Telegraph Ave during a demonstration over recent grand jury decisions in police-involved deaths on December 7, 2014 in Berkeley, California. A Staten Island, New York grand jury declined on Wednesday to indict New York City Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. (Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
A police officer is seen through a cloud of teargas and smoke during a demonstration over recent grand jury decisions in police-involved deaths on December 7, 2014 in Berkeley, California. A Staten Island, New York grand jury declined on Wednesday to indict New York City Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. (Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
A Berkeley police officer received hospital treatment for a dislocated shoulder after being hit with a sandbag, while another sustained minor injuries, police spokeswoman Jenn Coats said.
She said several businesses were looted and damaged during the march Saturday night, and officers attempting to get the crowd to disperse used tear gas. Some squad cars were also damaged.
Demonstrators break windows and loot at RadioShack in Berkeley, California on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. Two officers were injured Saturday night as a California protest over police killings turned violent with protesters smashing windows and throwing rocks and bricks at police, who responded by firing tear gas, authorities said. Demonstrators were responding to the grand jury verdicts in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York City by local police officers in their communities. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Sam Wolson)
Authorities did not provide further details of any injuries or arrests. "The total number of arrests and injuries is not known at this time," Coats said.
Demonstrators protest in front of the Berkeley police station in Berkeley California on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. Two officers were injured Saturday night as a California protest over police killings turned violent with protesters smashing windows and throwing rocks and bricks at police, who responded by firing tear gas, authorities said. Demonstrators were responding to the grand jury verdicts in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York City by local police officers in their communities. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Sam Wolson)
Thousands of demonstrators have protested peacefully in New York and elsewhere since the announcement Wednesday that a grand jury declined to indict a white officer in the death of Eric Garner, a black man who gasped "I can't breathe!" while being placed in a chokehold as he was being arrested for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. The decision closely followed a Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury's choice not to indict a white officer in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old.
The scope of the demonstrations and the lack of violence were moving to Garner's mother and widow, they said Saturday.
"It is just so awesome to see how the crowds are out there," said Eric Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, who added that she ended up stuck in her car after protests shut down traffic.
"I was just so proud of that crowd," Carr said. "It just warmed my heart."
Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, said she saw demonstrators from her apartment window and told her son, "Look at all the love that your father's getting."
Officers have said the outcry over the grand jury decision has left them feeling betrayed and demonized by everyone from the president and the mayor to throngs of protesters who scream at them on the street.
"Police officers feel like they are being thrown under the bus," said Patrick Lynch, president of the police union.
Garner's family members joined the Rev. Al Sharpton later Saturday as Sharpton laid a wreath at the site on Staten Island where Garner died July 17 in a confrontation that started when police tried to arrest him.
An amateur video seen by millions showed Garner gasping, "I can't breathe" during the fatal encounter.
"All we're concerned about is justice from the police," said Garner's stepfather, Benjamin Carr, who wore a T-shirt with the words, "Enough is enough."
Protests continued in New York City for a fourth day with several dozen people lying down on the floor of Grand Central Terminal and marching into stores in Times Square. There were no reports of arrests.
Protests have also been held in Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and a number of other cities.
In Seattle, several hundred people marched downtown to police headquarters Saturday. Authorities said a group then split off from the main protest and tried to get onto a roadway. Police say some protesters threw rocks at officers who blocked them from entering it. Seven were arrested.
Sharpton announced plans this week for a march in Washington, D.C., next Saturday to protest the killings of Garner, Brown and others and to press for change at the federal level.
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