Photo Essay: Hundreds of protesters gather at Barclays Center to call for abolition of police

After various activists spoke to the crowd about systemic racial and economic injustice, defunding the police and reinvesting in communities, protesters marched down Flatbush Ave to Grand Army Plaza.

Alexandria Johnson, Trace Miller and Jake Capriotti
April 21, 2021

At the Barclays Center, there is a quote from the late Congressman John Lewis, who was a notable figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis championed for accountability and justice for victims of police brutality before his untimely passing. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
There is a poster with the painting of George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis earlier this year. Former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin was convicted for the death of George Floyd. The jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
A poster hangs in the balance that mentions the names of the people of color killed by police departments across the U.S. This highlights the ongoing issue of police brutality and how it affects residents of color. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
In a sea of attendees, there is a small, black sign in white marker that says “Black Lives Matter.” (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
The organization Workers Assembly Against Racism created posters that called for the abolition of the police, in the wake of the Derek Chauvin verdict. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
A protester holds up a sign advocating for the Community Power Act, which fires and prosecutes cops, according to the sign. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
A protester places his index fingers on both sides of their head as the sun sets over Brooklyn. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
The same protester raises his hands as he speaks to the crowd. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
A protester raises his voice with his fist. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
The same protester holds his fist up as a sign of solidarity with and honor to Black Americans. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
A speaker at a march organized by the Grand Central Crew addresses a crowd of hundreds outside of Barclays Center in Brooklyn. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Barclays Center on April 21 to demand the defunding and abolition of the police following the Derek Chauvin trial verdict. Speakers from various New York activist groups stressed the amount of work yet to be done to achieve liberation for all and challenged listeners to actively build community and combat systemic racial and economic injustice. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
A protester stares down a group of NYPD officers standing outside the Atlantic Ave – Barclays Center subway stop in Brooklyn. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
Protesters wave Democratic Socialist of America flags and hold a banner reading “Defund the NYPD, Refund the People.” The goal of many activists seeking to defund the police is to reallocate those resources from police departments to social programs and community investment. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)
A protester holds a sign reading “Defund the NYPD.” For many protesters at Barclays Center, defunding police departments and reinvesting in communities could be the first step towards abolishing police. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)