This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30464083

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Washington march: Civil rights protest over US police killings Washington march: Civil rights protest over US police killings
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of civil rights protesters are marching through Washington DC, to bring attention to the recent killings of unarmed black people by police. Thousands of people have marched through the US capital, Washington DC, to protest against the recent killings of unarmed black people by police.
Relatives of Michael Brown, shot dead in the Missouri town of Ferguson, and Eric Garner, who died being restrained in New York, are due to attend. Relatives of Michael Brown, shot dead in the Missouri town of Ferguson, and Eric Garner, who died being restrained in New York, were due to speak.
Grand jury decisions not to charge police over either death generated waves of unrest across America. Both died after encountering police, but grand juries decided not to bring charges, sparking anger and unrest.
A demonstration in New York is also due to draw thousands. A demonstration in New York was also expected to draw thousands.
Organisers arranged buses to take demonstrators to the capital, where they are due to march down Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the Capitol. Organisers arranged buses to take demonstrators to the capital from the length of the US east coast.
Speakers at the Capitol are expected to call for legislative action. The marchers assembled at Freedom Plaza, where they were addressed by activists. They then began to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, the main thoroughfare linking the White House and the Capitol building.
"We need more than just talk," the Rev Al Sharpton, a leading civil rights advocate, said in a statement. "We need legislative action that will shift things both on the books and in the streets." The mood has been described as calm but defiant, with a large number of police on standby.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, America's oldest civil rights group, is involved in the protest, called the Justice For All March, along with the National Action Network and the Urban League. At the Capitol, speakers are expected to call for legislative action.
"We need more than just talk," the Rev Al Sharpton, a leading civil rights advocate, said in a statement.
"We need legislative action that will shift things both on the books and in the streets."
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, America's oldest civil rights group, is involved in the protest, along with Rev Sharpton's National Action Network and the Urban League.
The event in Washington has been called the Justice for All March, while demonstrations in other parts of the country have been organised under the banner of a National Day of Resistance.
Bereaved familiesBereaved families
Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead on 9 August during an altercation with a white police officer in Ferguson.Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead on 9 August during an altercation with a white police officer in Ferguson.
Mr Garner, 43, died while being held down by a white police officer on 17 July after being challenged over the alleged sale of loose cigarettes on a street in the Staten Island borough of New York. Mr Garner, 43, died while being held down by a white police officer on 17 July.
The event was caught on camera and his dying plea of "I can't breathe" has become a slogan of the protesters - as has the chant "Hands up!", relating to a claim that Mr Brown was surrendering when the fatal shots were fired. He had been challenged over the alleged sale of loose cigarettes on a street in Staten Island, New York.
The event was caught on camera and his dying plea of "I can't breathe" has become a slogan of the protesters. It echoes the adoption of "Hands up! Don't Shoot!" - a Ferguson refrain alleging that Mr Brown was surrendering to police when the fatal shots were fired.
Relatives of three other black people killed in controversial shootings are also expected to attend the march, according to the National Action Network.Relatives of three other black people killed in controversial shootings are also expected to attend the march, according to the National Action Network.
'Racist killings''Racist killings'
Addressing the crowd in Washington before the march started, the Rev Charles E Williams of the National Action Network in Detroit said protesters had come with the same message that had echoed across the US.Addressing the crowd in Washington before the march started, the Rev Charles E Williams of the National Action Network in Detroit said protesters had come with the same message that had echoed across the US.
"That message is that all life matters," he said to cheers. "Black life matters. Brown life matters. Yellow life matters. White life matters. And until the federal government does something about it we're gonna march, we're gonna protest, we're gonna lie down, we're gonna sit down, we're gonna stand in the way until we get justice.""That message is that all life matters," he said to cheers. "Black life matters. Brown life matters. Yellow life matters. White life matters. And until the federal government does something about it we're gonna march, we're gonna protest, we're gonna lie down, we're gonna sit down, we're gonna stand in the way until we get justice."
New York march co-organiser Umaara Elliott said in a statement that it was "open season on black people".New York march co-organiser Umaara Elliott said in a statement that it was "open season on black people".
"So we demand that action be taken at every level of government to ensure that these racist killings by the police cease," she added."So we demand that action be taken at every level of government to ensure that these racist killings by the police cease," she added.
The decision not to prosecute a policeman over Michael Brown's death sparked riots in Ferguson and as far away as Oakland, California.The decision not to prosecute a policeman over Michael Brown's death sparked riots in Ferguson and as far away as Oakland, California.
However, most of the protests over his and Mr Garner's death have been peaceful and dignified.However, most of the protests over his and Mr Garner's death have been peaceful and dignified.
Baltimore resident Terry Baisden, 52, told the Associated Press news agency in Washington she was "hopeful change is coming".Baltimore resident Terry Baisden, 52, told the Associated Press news agency in Washington she was "hopeful change is coming".
She had not protested before, she said, but felt compelled to turn out because "changes in action, changes in belief, happen in numbers".She had not protested before, she said, but felt compelled to turn out because "changes in action, changes in belief, happen in numbers".