Attorney General Eric Holder just held a brief press conference to discuss the Justice Department's investigation into Eric Garner's death. "Now that the local investigation has concluded," Holder said, "the Justice Department will proceed." Holder said he has been in contact today with Garner’s widow, President Obama, and New York City mayor Bill di Blasio to let them know about the Justice Department's plans. He promised an "independent, thorough, fair, and expeditious investigation."

"All lives must be valued," Holder continued. Garner's death is one of many recent cases that "have tested the sense of trust" between Americans and their police. "This is not a New York issue, nor a Ferguson issue, alone," Holder said. After making reference to "the bravery of the men and women in uniform," Holder said "we must seek to heal the breakdown of trust that we’ve seen." He called for people taking to the streets to protest today's news to exercise their rights, but to also remember that "the most successful protests throughout our history" have used nonviolence and were "peaceful."

Meanwhile in New York, protesters are at the Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony.


And the NYPD is doing their damndest to protect the tree: