11 arrested at Crabtree Valley Mall protesting Ferguson decision
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Nearly a dozen people were arrested Black Friday during a demonstration at Crabtree Valley Mall.
The group was one of dozens across the country holding a "Brown Friday" protest - calling on shoppers to boycott stores in the wake of a grand jury's decision not to indict Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.
Mall officials told ABC11 the protest started out peaceful. The group gathered in the food court and marched around. The spokesperson then said they started using bullhorns and blocking access to a store.
"Doing it on Black Friday, it was a perfect day. There were a lot of people here. We wanted everybody to know that we're here for justice. We stand for justice," said protestor Daniel Harrison.
The protestors lay on the ground.
"We actually tried to lie down on the ground for four minutes and thirty seconds as Michael Brown's body lay in the street for," said Harrison.
The Crabtree spokesperson said when the entrances to stores were blocked the demonstration became a fire hazard and public safety concern. Raleigh Police officers were called in to assist mall security.
11 people in total were arrested. They were taken to the Wake County Detention Center and charged with trespassing.
Protestors say they were just trying to get a message across.
"This could happen anywhere and this could happen in Raleigh, North Carolina," said Harrison.
Black Friday protests, like the one that happened at Crabtree, have taken place at other malls across the country.
Hundreds of peaceful protesters overtook shopping centers in St. Louis Friday afternoon, causing at least two malls to be shut down. Police allowed the protesters to demonstrate for some time before asking them to leave.
Chants of "Hands Up, Don't Shop" and "No Black Friday" were meant to discourage shoppers.
