Over a hundred protesters gathered in Cadman Plaza earlier today as a coda to last night's protests of a grand jury's decision not to indict the Ferguson, Missouri police officer who killed 18-year-old Michael Brown. "If the tables were turned and it was a police officer dead, they wouldn't take 100 days to figure out whether or not they should press charges," Brooklyn resident John Colin told us.

"I want to see intelligent discourse of action. I want to see people's voices being heard and that translating into actual legislation and policy change."

The rally was organized by Communities for Change and Al Sharpton's National Action Network. Kirsten Foy, the president of NAN's Brooklyn Chapter, and Comptroller Scott Stringer, also spoke to the crowd.

"It's time for people in our city to really come together, and have a policing strategy and not make it political," Stringer said, "This is about community leaders and police coming together."

The Comptroller also urged the city to invest in and give more opportunities to youth in New York's impoverished communities, instead of criminalizing them.

"When you look at this decision, you look at kids being shot by accident...I think we have a lot of work to do here." he said. "For me, the Michael Brown tragedy is within all of us, we can't look at that family and the way they said to keep the peace without our hearts going out to them for their loss."

Foy commended those who congregated peacefully throughout the city, but called out those in Ferguson who looted and burned businesses. "You want to be a fool, do it on your own time," Foy said. "We're on the nation's time right now."

Norman Fraizer, a 63 year old Brooklynite said he is outraged at the constant police shootings in and outside of NYC in recent years, especially the shooting of Akai Gurley near his neighborhood. Fraizer saw images of the crowds in Manhattan on Monday night and was encouraged to turn out today and at a rally in Union Square tonight at 7 p.m.

"I'll be there [Union Square] tonight, and if there's one tomorrow, I'll be there too," he said.
Fraizer hopes to see more demonstrations, and he also wants New Yorkers to understand that they don't need to be from a community of color to feel concerned, or to speak out. "It's not about a white or black thing, it's about one thing: justice."