NYC Ferguson Protestors Rattle Thanksgiving Parade

In an attempt to bring the cause to the forefront of the festivities, NYC Ferguson demonstrators protested the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday morning. Prompted by the hashtag #stoptheparade on Twitter, protestors gathered near the parade route and held up signs like "Black Lives Matter" and "No Justice, No Peace."

The New York Police Department arrested seven demonstrators early on in the protest, as the parade carried on as planned. According to ABC News, those held in custody were breaking windows and knocking over barricades in an attempt to disrupt the parade. The protestors scattered following the arrests, but quickly regrouped at the New York Public Library.

The NBC live broadcast of the parade left out the protest, reported Mashable, as did local news stations. NY Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said early Thursday morning that his force was prepared for the protests. Bratton, who was one among several police officers who were splattered in blood at one of the NYC Ferguson demonstrations, told WCBS 880:

We’ll be prepared for that, and let’s hope they’re smart enough and courteous enough not to engage in that activity. We’re monitoring it very closely, and I’m anticipating a very good day, a very peaceful day.

We will not tolerate, under any circumstances, any effort to disrupt this parade. This is a national event, a historic event. Anybody who would seek to interrupt it would be callous, indeed, on this very special day.

A wave of outrage swept the nation in the wake of Monday's Ferguson grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for shooting and killing unarmed teenager Michael Brown. Protests erupted in major cities and the prosecutor, Robert McCullough, has faced harsh criticism for his handling of the case.

Although the nationwide outcry following Brown's death and Officer Wilson's acquittal signaled that Ferguson protestors had considerable support on their side, attendees at the annual Macy's parade weren't all thrilled with the protest.

Calls to boycott Black Friday is another season-related initiative by Ferguson protestors. A Facebook page of the movement, Boycott Black-Friday, stated that its goal is to "galvanize economically and influence change in the politics of American Justice pertaining to Law Enforcement vs Citizens." The boycotts aim to to hit "the man" where it hurts — namely, their wallets — and to display the economic power of the black community.