Cleveland -
Several hundred people marched down an exit ramp and temporarily blocked rush-hour traffic on a busy freeway on Tuesday while protesting a police officer's fatal shooting of a 12-year-old boy who had brandished a realistic-looking novelty gun.
Police diverted traffic but didn't take action against the protesters, who chanted phrases such as “Hands up, don't shoot” and “No justice, no peace” as they sat in a major intersection before marching past City Hall and onto a highway.
The protesters were demonstrating after the death of Tamir Rice, who was shot on Saturday when police responded to an emergency call about a gun at a playground.
Police later determined Tamir had an airsoft gun, which typically shoots small plastic pellets.
The demonstration came as protesters across the United States blasted a grand jury's decision in Ferguson, Missouri, not to indict a white police officer who killed an unarmed black 18-year-old.
Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams was observing and conferring with officers about the local protest, but declined to immediately comment.
The crowd blocked the freeway for about an hour before returning to a downtown square and dispersing.
The demonstrators passed by a county jail, causing inmates to bang on their windows.
The crowd included people of various races and groups of students from at least three area colleges.
Attorneys for Tamir's family have asked police to release the complete surveillance video of the confrontation between him and the officer.
Police allowed the family's attorneys to watch the video on Monday, but haven't released it publicly. Officials noted that the video is considered evidence and said they wanted to be sensitive to the family, the community and officer, whom they described as distraught.
Police say Tamir was told to raise his hands but pulled what appeared to be a handgun from his waistband. Police say the video is clear, but they wouldn't discuss details of what it shows.
City officials planned to hold a public forum on Tuesday evening at a recreation centre close to where Tamir was shot. - Sapa-AP