It started as a call by workers' rights activists to boycott Black Friday sales, including a large protest with Wal-Mart employees for higher wages.

But it quickly morphed into a nationwide protest over racial injustice in the wake of the Ferguson ruling.

In New York City, protesters called for "Blackout Black Friday" at Macy's…a new tactic to show their anger over a grand jury's decision not to indict a white police officer for fatally shooting an unarmed black teen.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTER ADRIAN ST. JOHN, SAYING:

"We need to be really representative for our culture and boycott Black Friday. Get out of the stores, you know what I mean, and spread love to black businesses. Because that's what we need to do to come together because it seems nobody cares about us when our children get shot."

Protesters in D.C. demonstrated against Wal-Mart, demanding the retail chain pay their workers higher wages but showing their unity with Ferguson, too.

(S