A crowd gathers in front of the federal courthouse in downtown L.A. on Monday in support of Eric Garner and other unarmed black men who died during confrontations with police. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
About 50 men gather in downtown L.A. for the “Suits in Solidarity” vigil. “The larger community doesn’t know how common it is for African American men to be stopped and harassed,” said an organizer of the event. (Elisa Ferrari / Los Angeles Times)
Kerman Maddox (center) during the downtown vigil. The gathering grew out of a desire to show support for youth who have been protesting across the country, but in a different way, Maddox said. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas raises his hands during a silent vigil on the steps of the federal courthouse. “This is a season to celebrate hope, joy and fulfillment. We will celebrate our right to expressing our 1st Amendment rights,” he said. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
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Attendees of the vigil, organized after the police-involved deaths of Eric Garner in New York City and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., hold signs reading, “Black lives matter.” (Elisa Ferrari / Los Angeles Times)
“In our society, African American men are demonized -- we are seen as a threat,” said one vigil attendee. “It’s time for you in America to see us as Americans and contributors to society.” (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
