A Nationwide Tragedy: Marches, Rallies Honor Eric Garner, Michael Brown

Thousands gather to honor victims of police brutality.

A National Moment of Silence - People across the country have marched and gathered at rallies to protest the killing of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was fatally shot by police, and Eric Garner, the father of six who also was unarmed and killed by police. Keep reading for a look at rallies and vigils held to honor Brown, Garner and other victims of police brutality. — Patrice Peck and Dominique Zonyeé(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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A National Moment of Silence - People across the country have marched and gathered at rallies to protest the killing of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was fatally shot by police, and Eric Garner, the father of six who also was unarmed and killed by police. Keep reading for a look at rallies and vigils held to honor Brown, Garner and other victims of police brutality. — Patrice Peck and Dominique Zonyeé(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Staten Island, New York - The Rev. Al Sharpton, and former New York Gov. David Paterson, led Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, through the National Action Network’s "We Will Not Go Back" rally and march on Saturday (Aug. 23). The event was held to demand justice for Garner and Michael Brown, who both died as a result of encounters with police.(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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Staten Island, New York - The Rev. Al Sharpton, and former New York Gov. David Paterson, led Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, through the National Action Network’s "We Will Not Go Back" rally and march on Saturday (Aug. 23). The event was held to demand justice for Garner and Michael Brown, who both died as a result of encounters with police.(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Free But Not Equal - "Culture is a big factor in our behavior. There's a culture here of racial harassment of black people. We have three times the unemployment rate in the country. Number one infant mortality, number one in short life expectancy, number one in unemployment," said Jackson. "We were separate and not equal. Now we are free and not equal. We must have a kind of White House conference on jobs, justice and equality, I'm convinced."(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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Staten Island, NY - Protesters held up signs that read "Hands Up=Don't Shoot" as a sign of solidarity with the men, both of whom were unarmed and seen by witnesses to be complying with police prior to losing their lives.(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Staten Island, NY - More than 2,500 protesters of various ages and ethnicities turned out in the name of justice. Diana Smith-Baker, a white Manhattan resident and Quaker, told the Associated Press it was important for people of all races and religions to bring attention to "the inequities toward Black people and Hispanic people by the police department."(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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Staten Island, NY - More than 2,500 protesters of various ages and ethnicities turned out in the name of justice. Diana Smith-Baker, a white Manhattan resident and Quaker, told the Associated Press it was important for people of all races and religions to bring attention to "the inequities toward Black people and Hispanic people by the police department."(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Staten Island, NY - Emotions were high as supporters put themselves in Garner's family's shoes. Tamika Mapp, 38, a Black Army veteran from Harlem, participated because she didn't want her son to have to march when he reached her age.(Photo: AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

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Staten Island, NY - Emotions were high as supporters put themselves in Garner's family's shoes. Tamika Mapp, 38, a Black Army veteran from Harlem, participated because she didn't want her son to have to march when he reached her age.(Photo: AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

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Staten Island, NY - Eric Garner's wife, Esaw Garner, also addressed protesters: "Let’s just make this a peaceful march and get justice for my husband so this doesn’t happen to nobody else, nobody else’s son,” she said.(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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Staten Island, NY - Eric Garner's wife, Esaw Garner, also addressed protesters: "Let’s just make this a peaceful march and get justice for my husband so this doesn’t happen to nobody else, nobody else’s son,” she said.(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Brooklyn, NY - On Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. ET, people across the country gathered for a National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 9. (Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - On Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. ET, people across the country gathered for a National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 9. (Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Brooklyn, NY - "I think we should have a national vigil for #MikeBrown and all recent victims of police brutality,” @FeministaJones tweeted. "Same day. Same time. Every city we can."(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - "I think we should have a national vigil for #MikeBrown and all recent victims of police brutality,” @FeministaJones tweeted. "Same day. Same time. Every city we can."(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Brooklyn, NY - “It’s not just Ferguson. Police brutality is pervasive. It’s happening in so many cities,” Feminista Jones told the USA Today Network. "We must mourn the loss of people who have become victims, and give them a place to find healing with people who care.”(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - “It’s not just Ferguson. Police brutality is pervasive. It’s happening in so many cities,” Feminista Jones told the USA Today Network. "We must mourn the loss of people who have become victims, and give them a place to find healing with people who care.”(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Brooklyn, NY - Residents from more than two dozen U.S. cities were represented during #NMOS14, including New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Indianapolis, Phoenix and Miami.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - Residents from more than two dozen U.S. cities were represented during #NMOS14, including New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Indianapolis, Phoenix and Miami.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Oakland, CA - People in the following cities also participated in the nationwide moment: Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, Detroit, Denver, Nashville, Baltimore, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Des Moines, Portland, San Diego, Orlando, Austin, Boston, Minneapolis and others.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Oakland, CA - People in the following cities also participated in the nationwide moment: Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, Detroit, Denver, Nashville, Baltimore, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Des Moines, Portland, San Diego, Orlando, Austin, Boston, Minneapolis and others.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Brooklyn, NY - A Google document was used to organize each state's #NMOS14 vigil. Participants circulated images from each event through several social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Check out the #NMOS14 hashtag for more coverage.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - A Google document was used to organize each state's #NMOS14 vigil. Participants circulated images from each event through several social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Check out the #NMOS14 hashtag for more coverage.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

San Francisco, CA - Savannah McCoy, 17, right, and her friend Kimber Camgros, 16, attended a #NMOS14 vigil in San Francisco.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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San Francisco, CA - Savannah McCoy, 17, right, and her friend Kimber Camgros, 16, attended a #NMOS14 vigil in San Francisco.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

New York, NY - During a peaceful demonstration in New York’s Times Square, protesters held up their arms, imitating the surrendered pose that Brown allegedly assumed, according to witnesses.  (Photo: Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

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New York, NY - During a peaceful demonstration in New York’s Times Square, protesters held up their arms, imitating the surrendered pose that Brown allegedly assumed, according to witnesses.  (Photo: Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

St. Louis County Council Approves $1 Million for Residents  - The St. Louis County Council has approved up to $1 million to be allocated to Ferguson residents who are in need after two weeks of protests. Some residents who were not able to go to work will receive assistance to pay for bills. Volunteer organization United Way will distribute the funds to the individuals once the needs are determined.  (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Ferguson, MO - Demetrus Washington joined other #NMOS14 demonstrators in Ferguson, Mo., protesting the shooting death of Brown.(Photo Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Brooklyn, NY - Attendees were asked to wear a red ribbon, cloth or bandana on their right arm to identify each other and show solidarity at the vigils.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - Attendees were asked to wear a red ribbon, cloth or bandana on their right arm to identify each other and show solidarity at the vigils.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Brooklyn, NY - The moment of silence was scheduled to begin 20-minutes into the start of each vigil.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - The moment of silence was scheduled to begin 20-minutes into the start of each vigil.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Ferguson, MO - Demonstrators in Ferguson, Mo., where Brown lived and died, also participated in #NMOS14. Three police cars and four officers led the way during a protest march from the spot where Brown was killed.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Ferguson, MO - Demonstrators in Ferguson, Mo., where Brown lived and died, also participated in #NMOS14. Three police cars and four officers led the way during a protest march from the spot where Brown was killed.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Brooklyn, NY - At Fulton Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, N.Y., demonstrators took turns calling the names of their friends and family affected by police.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - At Fulton Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, N.Y., demonstrators took turns calling the names of their friends and family affected by police.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Los Angeles, CA - The residents of South Los Angeles, Calif., also took to the streets and held signs about the fatal shooting of Brown.(Photo: Reuters/Bob Riha Jr)

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Los Angeles, CA - The residents of South Los Angeles, Calif., also took to the streets and held signs about the fatal shooting of Brown.(Photo: Reuters/Bob Riha Jr)

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Oakland, CA - In Oakland, Calif., hundreds of demonstrators observed the national moment of silence. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Oakland, CA - In Oakland, Calif., hundreds of demonstrators observed the national moment of silence. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

St. Louis, MO - Children, such as 3-year-old Romel Turner of St. Louis, displayed colorful signs during the peaceful demonstrations.(Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)

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St. Louis, MO - Children, such as 3-year-old Romel Turner of St. Louis, displayed colorful signs during the peaceful demonstrations.(Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)

Brooklyn, NY - A young attendee held his handmade poster, which read "I am Black" and "Don't Shoot."(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - A young attendee held his handmade poster, which read "I am Black" and "Don't Shoot."(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

Brooklyn, NY - This poster lists the four unarmed Black men who were killed by police in recent weeks: Eric Garner of New York; John Crawford of Ohio; Ezell Ford of California; and Michael Brown of Missouri.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)

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Brooklyn, NY - This poster lists the four unarmed Black men who were killed by police in recent weeks: Eric Garner of New York; John Crawford of Ohio; Ezell Ford of California; and Michael Brown of Missouri.(Photo: Patrice Peck/BET)