Streets Closed As Thousands Join 'Millions March' Near The Grove

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — As many as 5,000 students and activists – even celebrities – participated in a "Millions March for First Amendment Rights," in what participants declared a peaceful protest against alleged police brutality in L.A., Ferguson and New York. It was one of several marches held Saturday in major American cities.

"These protests have been gaining steam. This is all a further display of that steam. It's a continuum of momentum," community activist Tiffany Hobbs told CBS2/KCAL9's Louisa Hodge.

The event started at 2 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park, near The Grove.

"No justice, no peace," and "Hands up, don't shoot," echoed through the crowd as they moved east on Beverly Boulevard through the Fairfax and Miracle Mile districts, the LAPD reported.

"We are not in any way, shape or form attempting to antagonize or to create some type of division between us and the police, but rather to highlight the things we feel have been done unjustly," student Keshad Adeniyi said.

The protesters continued to demand for justice for Eric Garner and Michael Brown, along with with cases in Los Angeles.

"We have the Ezell Ford case, we have the Omar Abrego case. We have many cases in our past, and will likely have many cases in our future," Hobbs said.

Police shut down streets around 1:15 p.m. on the proposed march route to protect participants. The demonstration ended around 6 p.m. at South Fairfax Avenue and Beverly Boulevard.

Student Teaira Martin Nelson said, "One boy said something that was powerful: 'When a group of people, young people at that, can go out into the community and show how these things are affecting us, it's very vital. Because not only does it make an impact in our community, but in our nation.'"

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