"No Kings" protest in NYC draws thousands of demonstrators

The "No Kings" protest in New York City on Saturday drew thousands of demonstrators from across the Tri-State Area, and caused street closures and traffic delays in Midtown Manhattan.

A group started gathering at Columbus Circle and Central Park South before the march at 2 p.m., when they started walking down Seventh Avenue and Broadway, through Times Square and to 34th Street. Chopper 2 was live over the rally in Midtown.

Parts of Seventh Avenue and 34th Street were closed during the march.

Around 6 p.m., the NYPD announced the protests had dispersed and all traffic closures were lifted.

"We had tens of thousands of people across all five boroughs peacefully exercising their first amendment rights, and the NYPD made zero protest-related arrests," the NYPD said.

Why they were protesting

Demonstrators protested federal immigration policies and the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents amid an ongoing battle in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.  

High-profile figures rallied support earlier in the day at a press conference, including civil rights leader Al Sharpton, New York Attorney General Letitia James and actor Robert de Niro, who all called for action and urged people to show up.

"We still believe in the core American values of justice, equality, decency, and kindness," de Niro said. "Because we're going from the streets to the ballot box and because we all deserve a country with no king."

Protesters said they hope events like this will bring about change in the country.  

"We're just here to show up for our communities and our neighbors, and say that we don't accept this treatment, everyone is welcome here in New York, and that this is unacceptable," a protester named Anna said.

"This country is incredibly important to all of us, and I think this is like a real true show of patriotism and that we're out here to make this country a better place," protester Isabella Wright said.

"People are waking up to the bad things that are going on," a protester named Val said.

"At the end of the day, we can protest as much as we want, but until we go to that ballot box that second Tuesday after the first Monday of November every two years, nothing is going to change," protester Darius Palmer said.

Rallies across the country

More "No Kings" rallies were held Saturday in cities across the country, including Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and St. Paul, Minnesota. 

CBS News New York reached out to the White House for a statement on Saturday's demonstrations in New York and across the country. 

"The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them," a White House spokesperson said.

There were also demonstrations in other countries from Europe to Latin America to Australia, some of them with the title "No Tyrants" instead of "No Kings," with a recurring demand for "a world free from wars."

Prior "No Kings" marches in NYC

Saturday's event was the third "No Kings" march in New York City after rallies in June and October last year each drew tens of thousands of participants. 

Protesters at the most recent march held signs and flags reading "America was built by immigrants," and "We don't bow to billionaires." 

The NYPD said over 100,000 people marched peacefully across the five boroughs and reported zero arrests at the October march.