Thousands of demonstrators are participating in a march and rally today in honor of Eric Garner, the Staten Island who died in police custody last month.
The event, titled “We Will Not Go Back,” is being led by Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network.
After a church service in Brooklyn this morning worshipers boarded buses to Staten Island.
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Garner’s family joined Sharpton for a separate mass on Staten Island beforehand.
Marchers are heading to Tompkinsville where the march began around noon.
Demonstrators will assemble near Victory Boulevard and Bay Street and will pass the Staten Island district attorney’s office and end up at the 120th precinct.
The event is expected to wrap up around 3 p.m.
Police are warning drivers to avoid the area between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Bus and Staten Island Railway Service will be increased for the larger crowds.
Sources say about a thousand police officers will be on hand, but most of them will not be in uniform.
They say 500 marshals — drawn from church, union, and community leaders — will be working to help keep the demonstration moving and safe.
A grand jury next month will consider charges in the case, possibly against NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who is seen on video putting Garner in an alleged chokehold.
Sharpton and Garner’s family want federal prosecutors to take over the investigation.
Meanwhile, the man who recorded Garner’s arrest has made bail on gun charges, according to his cousin.
Ramsey Orta, 22, was arrested a few weeks after Garner’s death.
Police say officers saw him tucking a handgun into the waistband of a 17-year-old girl.
He pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of an unloaded firearm and is due back in court on September 5.
STREET CLOSURES & TRANSIT CHANGES
The following streets will be closed Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Drivers are advised to avoid these areas between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Bay Street from Hannah Street to Richmond Terrace
• Little Bay Street from Victory Boulevard to Bay Street
• Victory Boulevard from Jersey Street to Bay Street
• St. Mark’s Place from Victory Boulevard to Hyatt Street
• Stuyvesant Place from Bay Street to Wall Street
• Schuyler Street from Stuyvesant Place to Richmond Terrace
• Richmond Terrace from Bay Street to Westervelt Avenue
• Wall Street from St. Mark’s Place to Richmond Terrace
• Hamilton Avenue from Richmond Terrace to Stuyvesant Place
From the MTA:
In anticipation of street closures in and around the vicinity of the St. George Ferry Terminal due to Saturday’s planned march, MTA New York City Transit will execute a comprehensive service plan between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. that will ensure customers will be able to reach their destinations throughout the day. Customers are advised to allow additional time for travel.
Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway (SIR) normally operates every 30 minutes on Saturdays. SIR will supplement normal service with an additional shuttle train operating between Old Town Station and St George Terminal. The shuttle train will operate every 15 minutes. Additional personnel will be assigned to assist customers at Old Town Station, Grasmere Station, Tompkinsville Station, and St George Station. Signage to advise customers of the additional SIR service will be posted at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan, St. George Ferry Terminal and in SIR train cars.
Signage to advise customers of the additional SIR service will be posted at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan, St. George Ferry Terminal and in SIR train cars.
Additional subway personnel will also be dispatched in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan as march participants travel to and from the march staging areas.
Buses
Several bus routes will be impacted by street closures as a result of the planned march. The S74 and S76 will terminate at Old Town Rd where customers can transfer to SIR for service to St. George. The S78 will detour and stop at Old Town Rd. in order to allow customers to transfer for SIR service and then will continue along its regular route and terminate at Narrows Rd South.
The S40, S44, S46, S48, S61, and S62 will terminate at Broadway/Clove Rd. where customers can board shuttle buses for service to the Old Town Station and transfer to SIR.
The S51 and S52 will detour and stop at Old Town Rd. in order to allow customers to transfer for SIR service and then will continue along their regulars route and terminate at Hylan Blvd/Clove Rd.
The S53, S79, X1, X10, and X17 will run their normal routes across the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
For the latest updates, visit mta.info.
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