Protests continue in New York despite mayor's call for moratorium

NEW YORK - Several hundred people marched in midtown Manhattan to protest police brutality despite public officials' calls for a pause in protests until after two slain officers are buried.

The protesters kept to the sidewalks and were mostly peaceful Tuesday night. Some held up signs saying "Jail Killer Cops,"

Earlier in the day, protest organizers spoke in front of flags flying at half-staff with sympathetic words for the fallen patrolmen, but they offered a harsh rejection of the mayor's request for a demonstration moratorium, CBS New York reported.

"There's been no moratorium on the police murdering our people!" organizer Travis Morales said.

"You got no right to tell us when, how and whether we can protest," organizer Carl Dix added.

New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton said it was unfortunate that some protesters wouldn't hold off on new demonstrations.

Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were ambushed Saturday by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who later killed himself. He was angry over the failure to indict white police officers accused of killing unarmed black men.

Earlier Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio led a moment of silence for the men at City Hall.