Thousands of people in more than 80 cities across the United States have rallied together on Thursday to protest police brutality. It all started when 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot while unarmed by police in Ferguson, MO on Saturday.

After the initial shooting, rallies in the community of Ferguson quickly turned awry with violence as police officers with armored vehicles, tear gas and rubber bullets clashed with protestors.

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Swarms of people then took to the streets of their cities participating in peaceful candlelight vigils that were intended to honor the lives of every innocent person killed or affected by police brutality.   

Thousands rallying in New York City's Union Square and Times Square were threatened by the New York Police Department if people did not stop blocking traffic. According to reports, at least four people were arrested during the peaceful rally.

Protestors chanted, "NYPD don't shoot!" Many held signs and others simply held their hands up - in reference to Michael Brown, who according to witnesses, had his hands held up before being shot multiple times.

The protests aren't going unnoticed however, at least not in Ferguson, MO. The community of Ferguson had looked "more like a war zone, and it's not acceptable," Gov. Jay Nixon said during a news conference. "Ferguson will not be defined as a community that was torn apart by violence, but will be known as a community that pulled together to overcome it."

It appears that Gov. Jay Nixon is now allowing State Troopers - who have a much more calm demeanor and approach with the public - to take over the responsibilities for security in Ferguson.

Whether it'll be a significant change or not remains to be seen, but a St. Louis alderman said he's already liking the change. "Really, it has been the police presence, the heavy-handed presence, which has escalated the situation and I think led to the violence each night. And so it's good to see this new approach," he said.

Hopefully this is only a starting point to a whole new policy and outlook to end police brutality in the United States. 

TagsFerguson, NYPD, police brutality, michael brown