Protesters Disrupt Tampa Christmas Tree Lighting

Demonstrators took to the streets in both Tampa and Miami Friday night, blocking traffic, as they expressed their displeasure with what they describe as uncontrolled police brutality in America.

In Tampa, an estimated 200 people closed the Kennedy Boulevard bridge in downtown for a time before marching into Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, disrupting the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony.

While violence was not a part of the Tampa protest, the group managed to drown out Christmas songs in the park, The Tampa Tribune reported. The group ultimately ended up at Gaslight Park. Tampa Police report the assembly was peaceful and no arrests were made.

The demonstration was staged to “stand with Ferguson,” the Tribune reported. It comes on the heels of last week’s grand jury decision against indicting a police officer in the shooting death of unarmed Michael Brown, 18. It also follows a New York grand jury’s decision against indicting a police officer in the death of a man who died in a choke hold. Similar protests were held last week in both Tampa and St. Petersburg, along with numerous other cities across the country.

“We will do what we need to do,” the Tampa Bay Times quoted New Black Panther Party member Eric Williams as saying. “We are not here for violence. We are just trying to prove a point.”

See Also:

• Ferguson Grand Jury Verdict Sparks Tampa, St. Pete Protests
• No Indictment for Officer Wilson in Shooting Death of Michael Brown

Protesters also took to Twitter to show pictures of the demonstration in Tampa and encourage attendance at a similar rally planned for 5 p.m. Saturday at St. Petersburg’s Williams Park.

“Amazing job tonight #Tampa. We #shutitdown,” tweeted Ashley Green.

Not everyone was happy with the display.

“If ur gonna protest, protest,” tweeted Scantman. “But do u have to stand in the middle of the frickin road and block traffic? #Tampa.”

A similar protest was also staged in Miami Friday night. There protesters shut down Interstate 195 in both directions as the crowd moved toward downtown, CBS Miami reported.

Image of the Tampa protest via Twitter