Much of my December was spent marching through Manhattan and Brooklyn documenting the protests taking place following the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. This is an edit of some of the more recent coverage for The New York Times.

Emiliano Inzhin and Lamar Charles recreate the death of Eric Garner, shouting "I can't breathe" in Grand Central Station while protesters are demonstrating against a grand jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at a press conference alongside the family of Eric Garner at the headquarters of his advocacy group, the National Action Network, in Harlem. Mr. Sharpton responded to a grand jury decision about the death of Eric Garner, a Staten Island man who died after being placed in a chokehold by an NYPD officer. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters host a "die-in" in Times Square while demonstrating about the shooting death of Michael Brown.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Tyra Morrissette of Brooklyn holds a noose with the names of seven black men who have been killed to demonstrate against a grand jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner in Union Square. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters are handcuffed by officers from the New York Police Department as they demonstrate about the shooting death of Michael Brown.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters donning Guy Fawkes as they demonstrate against a grand jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner in Union Square. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters demonstrate in Times Square about the shooting death of Michael Brown.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters demonstrate in Times Square about the shooting death of Michael Brown.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

The mother of Eric Garner, Gwen Carr, clutches a tissue at the headquarters of The Rev. Al Sharpton's advocacy group, the National Action Network, in Harlem. Mr. Sharpton responded to a grand jury decision about the death of Eric Garner, a Staten Island man who died after being placed in a chokehold by an NYPD officer. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Employees of the National Parks Service blockade off parts of the steps outside Federal Hall before protesters demonstrate against a grand jury decision about the death of Eric Garner, a Staten Island man who died after being placed in a chokehold by an NYPD officer. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters put themselves in a demonstrative choking position in Grand Central Station while demonstrating against a grand jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Michael O'Connor, who lives in London, Ontario, Canada, demonstrates outside of Madison Square Garden in support of protesters who are demonstrating against a grand jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

An officer from the New York Police Department commands a protester to get back onto the sidewalks as they demonstrate about the shooting death of Michael Brown.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protester Melissa Moore holds a sign at a demonstration in Union Square about the shooting death of Michael Brown.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

NYPD officers march through Manhattan alongside protesters demonstrating against a grand jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

NYPD officers march through Manhattan alongside protesters demonstrating against a grand jury verdict in the death of Eric Garner. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Spent my Thanksgiving like so many in media do covering Black Friday. I was assigned to shoot at Macy's Herald Square to capture the madness. Despite all the pandemonium involved in covering something like this, it was really neat to shoot such an iconic store for an iconic newspaper. So far there's been no shortage of exciting experiences in this city!

Shoppers prepare to head into Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Shoppers rush into Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

A shopper looks at jewlery at Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Shoppers look at shoes at Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

A store clerk works at Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Shoppers look at handbags at Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Weary shoppers rest at Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Employees at Macy's Herald Square prepare for a rush of shoppers during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

A small group of protestors gathered outside of Macy's Herald Square to draw attention to the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

A weary shopper rests at Macy's Herald Square during the company's Black Friday sales event.  CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Monday night, the ruling came down that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the shooting death of Michael Brown. 

As CNN broadcast the decision live, I sat in the room with another family who has been deeply impacted by a controversial death at the hands of a law enforcement officer.

The family of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who died after being placed in a chokehold by an NYPD officer, watched and wept as they listened to the decision. Their sentiment was that if this was how Michael Brown's death was treated, there was no hope for their own case. 

After photographing the Garners alongside the Rev. Al Sharpton, I raced up to Times Square where several hundred protesters had gathered. I found the words "Mike Brown" scrawled across the ground in red dye, presumably the same dye that had been tossed at Police Commissioner William J. Bratton earlier in the evening.

From there, the protesters took to the streets, blocking traffic all across Manhattan and eventually shutting down the Brooklyn Bridge. Here are some moments from Monday night, shot for The New York Times.

Erica Garner, one of the daughters of Eric Garner, and his mother Gwen Carr, react to the results of a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, at the headquarters of the National Action Network, in Harlem. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters march across the Brooklyn Bridge as they demonstrate in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

NYPD officers lead protestors across the Brooklyn Bridge as they demonstrate in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters demonstrate in Times Square in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters prepare signs in Times Square in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

The Rev. Al Sharpton comforts Esaw Garner, the wife of Eric Garner, as they react to the results of a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, at the headquarters of the National Action Network, in Harlem. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

NYPD officers lead protestors across the Brooklyn Bridge as they demonstrate in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Protesters demonstrate in Manhattan in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

A protester photographs a demonstration in Manhattan in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

The words "Mike Brown" are scrawled across the ground in what appeared to be red dye in Times Square in response to a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times