Protestors condemning the two separate deaths of African American men at the hands of police took part in a “die-in” at Apple’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City Friday night. The protest lasted approximately fifteen minutes.
An on-scene report from USA Today said “dozens” were involved in the non-violent die-in protest, which saw Apple Store employees — still wearing (RED) t-shirts symbolizing Apple’s support in the global fight against AIDS — milling around, taking pictures as activists took over.
Some of the protestors held signs that read “I Can’t Breathe,” referring to New York City resident Eric Garner who died following an altercation with Staten Island police, in which a chokehold was applied to Garner during th arrest. A video of the altercation shows Garner repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.”
Other protestors lay down in the store to symbolize the death of Michael Brown, the African American man who was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, MO.
“The CEO of Apple knows we shut his store down — that means capitalist America is going to take us seriously,” said protestor Zandir Santos. “We are going to shake up your business and we want to hit you where it hurts.” A protest was also held at a nearby Macy’s location.
