#BlackoutBlackFriday Is In Full Swing

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One protest sign in particular summed up #BlackoutBlackFriday quite nicely: "Sorry for the inconvenience. We are trying to change the world."

While the day after Thanksgiving has traditionally been a time for waking up at the crack of dawn to lug around piles of marked-down merchandise, today's shoppers got more than they bargained for. In the wake of the grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown, protestors have taken to the streets to tell the world that we should all be focusing more on racism than retail.

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In St. Louis, where the Ferguson jury convened, protestors staged a "die-in" at the galleria, prompting the mall to close indefinitely. In New York, Herald Square stalwarts like Macy's were confronted with placard-waving protestors, while trains at West Oakland's BART station were barricaded by people linking arms. The movement has been fast, furious, and powerful.

Deray McKesson's Twitter feed has been an excellent resource for on-the-ground coverage — including reports of shoppers stepping over those participating in the "die-in." Click through for more scenes from what has been a truly emotional day.

3rd floor Die In. We protest. #ferguson https://t.co/jPeBMboQte
— deray mckesson (@deray) November 28, 2014

On the 3rd floor, the officers have congregated. Here we go. Galleria. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/QHMHaGXt8c
— deray mckesson (@deray) November 28, 2014

.@aliciagarza of #BlackLivesMatter is one of the activists locking down BART in West Oakland #BlackoutBlackFriday pic.twitter.com/EBJ9pccOXk
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) November 28, 2014

BREAKING: A group of protesters just entered Macy's in NYC, the largest store in the world. #BoycottBlackFriday pic.twitter.com/FtZfGrzy5X
— Jenna Pope (@JennaBPope) November 28, 2014

We just shut down Walmart Chicago on Monroe ....#handsupdontspend pic.twitter.com/SZ6RWaM7xQ
— jamalbryant (@jamalhbryant) November 28, 2014

Protest had moved to times sq #nyc #BlackoutBlackFriday @MillionHoodies pic.twitter.com/TeJ65hjZ70
— Alexandra Rosenmann (@alexpreditor) November 28, 2014

We protest. America MUST value black life. The movement lives. Galleria. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/3F7gS7oixb
— deray mckesson (@deray) November 28, 2014

This mall is getting shut down. Stores are closing. Hope you got what you needed #BlackoutBlackFriday #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/hJWbjF9XUz
— handsupunited (@handsupunited_) November 28, 2014

No justice, no peace! #BlackoutBlackFriday #HandsUpDontShop pic.twitter.com/ebsNZTCSOC
— Jeromy (@MrJeromyy) November 28, 2014

Powerful beyond measure. "@NasMohit: #BlackOutBlackFriday takin' it to Herald Square pic.twitter.com/1WpvOOb8fP"
— Hip Hop Psychologist (@drdia) November 28, 2014

#BlackOutBlackFriday... "@kingsarcasmj: One more time... #HandsUpDontSpend pic.twitter.com/53ZtEWShJX"
— Brother Jesse (@BrotherJesse) November 28, 2014