UPDATE: 11:40 p.m. ET: The protesters in New York have reached midtown Manhattan at 38th street, near the site of the New Year's Eve celebration, but they appear to be blocked off from Times Square by police barricades.
As the temperature continues to dip and the clock moves closer to midnight and a new year, this could be the last stop for tonight's march. However, based on the crowd's chants, the protest doesn't appear to be losing any steam.
RT @Newyorkist: 38th and Broadway, crowd chants "I cant breathe." #NYE2015PROTEST #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/8rAKYVuJvu— ILoveMyWife0007 (@NavyDad0007) January 1, 2015
UPDATED: 10:50 p.m. ET: In addition to protesters currently marching in New York City, protesters in Boston staged a die-in at Copley Square during the city's annual First Night Boston New Year's Eve celebration.
Loud but peaceful group chanting #BlackLivesMatter on #FirstNight ... #Boston pic.twitter.com/YgoChJQke1— Chris Faraone (@Fara1) December 31, 2014
Boston Police say the "Die-In" protestors were peaceful and cooperative. No arrests. @NECN pic.twitter.com/dVTemUWtUQ— Kathryn Sotnik (@kathrynsotnik) January 1, 2015
UPDATED: 10:31 p.m. ET: The protesters at Union Square, said to be in the range of 100 people, have begun marching toward Times Square, the epicenter of New York's New Year's Eve celebration as thousands of locals and tourists watch the ceremonial ball drop to ring in the new year.
Based on social media reports from people at the site of the protest, members of the NYPD are following the group of protesters as they move closer to the massive crowd of revelers in the center of the city.
Protesters begin marching--on sidewalk--West on 14th; aiming to reach Times Sq. Police flanking pic.twitter.com/zKjJlic4A9— Joe Jackson (@joejackson) January 1, 2015
About 90-100 people here and the march to Times Square is underway. Crowd chanting "hands up dont shoot." #NYE2015PROTEST #blacklivesmatter— newyorkist (@Newyorkist) January 1, 2015
About two dozen helmeted police wait for march on 6th and 23rd #NYE2015PROTEST #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/hgZqamacn8— newyorkist (@Newyorkist) January 1, 2015
#NYE2015PROTEST revelers from NJ got souvenirs from the protest #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/nQy50v0yqj— Debra Sweet (@DSweetWCW) January 1, 2015
You might think New Year's Eve is a time for celebration, but for some it's another opportunity to continue the anti-police brutality protests that have spread across the U.S. in recent weeks.
As thousands pack New York's Times Square, a group of protesters have gathered at Union Square, about a mile and a half away, with signs in tow and intent on keeping the issue of police interactions with the community front and center.
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NOW: dozens of protesters gather in Union Sq ahead of NYE march; almost as many #NYPD readied w plastic cuffs standby pic.twitter.com/Q5zUrhzKtI— Joe Jackson (@joejackson) January 1, 2015
#NYE2015PROTEST gathering now in Union Square NYC, #BLACKLIVESMATTER pic.twitter.com/jC2ttGzIwo— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) January 1, 2015
"Are you angry?" YES! "Are you impatient?" YES! #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/qVs46XPkqY— newyorkist (@Newyorkist) January 1, 2015
The current temperature in New York City is a bone-chilling 30 degrees, presenting a challenging environment for both New Year's Eve revelers and protesters alike.
Nevertheless, the weather hasn't deterred many protesters, who also showed up outside of the Manhattan Correctional Center to voice opposition to the U.S. prison system in apparent solidarity (based on the included Vine hashtags) with the anti-police brutality protesters.
As the night wears on, masses of New Year's revelers and isolated protest groups, both currently being monitored closely by the NYPD, could meet on the streets of New York, resulting in any number of scenarios.
We'll continue to monitor the situation on the ground as the clock ticks closer to the new year.