The Black Lives Matter movement is assuring that it's not business as usual this holiday season amid police violence that continues take the lives of African-Americans. There were more than a dozen arrests in #BlackXMas protests in Los Angeles and Minneapolis Wednesday.

Nine people were arrested in Los Angeles after shutting down a busy highway and using chalk to write "Black Lives Matter" on the ground. In Minneapolis, there were four arrests for trespassing after demonstrations at the Mall of America.
“On one of the busiest travel days of the year, Black Lives Matter is calling for a halt on Christmas as usual in memorial of all of the loved ones we have lost and continue to lose this year to law enforcement violence without justice or recourse,” the organization said in an e-mail statement, according to KTLA.

Police say they were not authorized to protest at the mall. Later that evening, the remaining protesters stood in at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, continuing to demand justice for Jamar Clark, a 24-year-old African-American man who was shot and killed by a Minneapolis police officer on Nov. 15.

Black Lives Matter demonstrations also took place in Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco. Protests are expected to continue today.

In the Windy City, a march is planned this afternoon through Magnificent Mile, a high-end shopping district downtown, in the name of Laquan McDonald. The video of Chicago police shooting the 17-year-old to death has drawn outrage and Mayor Rahm Emanuel has faced immense criticism for the department's failure to be transparent about the case. Latino activists said they are joining the march in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protesters calling for Emanuel's resignation.
Take a look at photos and videos from demonstrations that took place around the country Wednesday.
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(Photo: Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via AP)