About 100 protesters walked down the middle of downtown Tampa streets interrupting traffic Friday night to voice their opposition to the grand jury no indictment decisions of two police officers in the Mike Brown case in Ferguson and the Eric Garner case in New York City.
"It's time to call attention to police brutality, police use of force," said protester Ali Muhammad. "It's time to call attention to police killings."
The protesters gathered at Gaslight Park in front of Tampa Police headquarters before heading east down the middle of Kennedy Boulevard. At one point protesters surrounded a white car and shouted at the driver. Another protester could be seen shouting at a police officer.
Protesters stopped in the middle of intersections shouting "no justice, no peace" and Tampa police officers on bicycles, horses and cruisers showed restraint and allowed the protest to continue.
"I think that they're (police) being fairly courteous," said protester Gage Lacharity.
The protesters marched for more than an hour, stopping just past the University of Tampa and turning around at Brevard Avenue and heading west on Kennedy Boulevard. The protesters then waked to Curtis Hixon Park where the city was hosting a Christmas tree lighting event. Families that showed up for the holiday celebration said they were upset that the protesters interrupted the festivities.
"I think there's a time and a place for protest," said James Dunn. "But to shutdown an event here for kids on the holidays is really disgraceful."
"It's unfortunate that individuals take a holiday celebration and decide to make a political statement out of it," said A.J. Matthews. "Maybe one day they'll understand."
The protesters eventually moved on heading back to Gaslight Park and made no apologies for upsetting residents.
"Sorry to inconvenience your Christmas party," said Angel D'Angelo. "But this is an important issue."
The protesters were peaceful and there were no arrests.