UNION SQUARE — More than 100 protesters gathered in Union Square for a rally against police violence Friday, hours after the mayor asked them to be compassionate toward police officers in the wake of the shooting of law enforcement officers in Dallas, Texas.
Protesters gathered around 6 p.m. for speeches in Union Square before marching into the surrounding streets while chanting "Hands Up Don't Shoot!"
"It's hard for people to trust police officers nowadays," said Ebony Smith, 20, a student from Canarsie. "I feel like it's hard for African-American communities to respect police officers, especially when they don't feel like they're being respected."
There were no arrests associated with the protest, according to the NYPD.
A similar demonstration was held Thursday, when hundreds gathered in the same location for a Black Lives Matter protest that marched out of Union Square and up through much of Midtown Manhattan.
Earlier Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced increased alertness by police in the wake of an attack against police in Dallas Thursday night. The shooter in Dallas killed five police officers Thursday and wounded seven others before he was killed by Dallas police.
De Blasio said protests would be closely monitored, and that police officers would work in pairs.
"We will have a very large presence at any protests that are planned to really make sure things are very well controlled," de Blasio said.
He urged protesters to "recognize the pain" of NYPD officers in light of the sniper attack.
Anger over police violence has heightened across the country this week after Alton Sterling was shot dead by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile was killed during a traffic stop in Minnesota.