Protesters in New York have promised ongoing demonstrations following Wednesday’s Staten Island grand jury decision not to indict New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner. Garner, 43, died in July during an arrest, after being placed in an apparent chokehold by 29-year-old Pantaleo. He was being arrested for allegedly selling loose cigarettes.

During questioning before the grand jury, Pantaleo, an eight-year veteran of the force, testified that he was using a wrestling takedown move that he had been taught in the police academy, not a chokehold. However, New York City’s medical examiner ruled the death a homocide due to compression of Garner’s neck and chest. Chokeholds are prohibited by police regulations.

Protests were mostly peaceful throughout Manhattan. Some of the demonstrators targeted the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting, but were blocked by the NYPD from getting near the ceremony. They lined the sidewalks some distance away, chanting “hands up, don’t shoot,” “I can’t breathe” and “no justice, no tree.” Traffic was disrupted as protesters marched up Broadway and walked between taxis and cars in Columbus Circle. Times Square was virtually shut down by about 1,000 demonstrators.

The grand jury decision not to indict a white police officer in the death of a black man came one week after a similar determination from a grand jury in Missouri that has sparked violent protests throughout the country. One New York protester complained that Michael Vick was convicted for killing dogs, but questioned how killing a black man does not get an indictment.

Garner’s arrest, choking and complaints of being unable to breathe were caught on video which has since gone viral. However, after four months of deliberation the grand jury determined that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges against Pantaleo.

After the grand jury’s decision, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association released a statement on behalf of Pantaleo that offered his personal condolences to the Garner family for their loss. Garner’s widow, Esaw Garner, was clear in not accepting the apology, saying she could not care less about his condolences. She said the time for remorse was when her husband was saying he could not breathe, and that her husband is dead, the cop is still collecting a paycheck and she is looking for a way to feed her kids.

With 83 arrests reported by Thursday morning, the decision poses a major challenge for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who promised to repair relations between the police department and black New Yorkers when he took office in January. Protesters complained that the grand jury ruling was yet another example that people of color are being killed by police officers who are not charged with crimes.

Although the criminal case against the officer has ended, police department discipline continues. Pantaleo remains on suspension while an internal investigation takes place, and may not return to law enforcement duties, which would end his career. He has been instructed to stay out of sight for his own safety. The other officers who were with Pantaleo when Garner was killed will also be investigated by Internal Affairs. A federal investigation is also continuing into whether Garner’s civil rights were violated.