Thousands of people march in NYC over chokehold death of unarmed black man by white officer

Esaw Garner, left, becomes emotional as she arrives at the spot where her husband, Eric Garner, died, at the start of a march and rally today in the Staten Island borough of New York.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Esaw Garner, left, becomes emotional as she arrives at the spot where her husband, Eric Garner, died, at the start of a march and rally today in the Staten Island borough of New York.

NEW YORK — Thousands of people expressing grief, anger and hope for a better future have taken to New York City streets to protest the chokehold death of an unarmed black man by a white police officer.

The noontime rally and march Saturday in Staten Island is being led by the Rev. Al Sharpton and relatives of Eric Garner, who died last month.

The marchers walked behind a banner that says, “We Will Not Go Back, March for Justice.”

Police estimate the crowd at 2,500 people and growing as busloads of marchers arrive. A police official credits march organizers with helping to keep things orderly.

Sharpton had earlier warned demonstrators to go home if they could not remain nonviolent.