Yamiche Alcindor

USA TODAY

NEW YORK -- Protesters staged a "die in" Friday night in an Apple store on Fifth Avenue and in Macy's at Herald Square.

Hundreds of people angry over police treatment of African-American men crowded the street outside the Apple store, and some made their way through the store's large glass doors.

Once inside, the protesters stood in circles and chanted while store employees and customers silently snapped photos.

Zandir Santos, 30, of Brooklyn, relished in the idea that protesters had disrupted life at an Apple store and a Macy's in New York. The filmmaker said this is a pivotal time in American history and that police must change how they treat people.

"The CEO of Apple knows we shut his store down--that means capitalist America is going to take us seriously," he said. "We are going to shake up your business and we want to hit you where it hurts. "

Closer look at Eric Garner protests

Chernell Brown lay down on the floor and encouraged other protesters to do the same in memory of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black man who died after an altercation with a Ferguson, Mo., police officer in August. The move was symbolic of the four hours Brown lay on the ground after he died.

"This is our house," shouted Brown, 25. "No more business as usual. Revolution is not comfortable."

Dozens of protesters entered Macy's at about 7:50 p.m. and screamed "I can't breathe," as onlookers recorded them on their cell phones. Again, dozens staged a "die-in."

Friday was the third night of demonstrations since a grand jury decided a Staten Island police officer would not face charges in the July death of Eric Garner, 43, an asthmatic who was subjected to a chokehold. On a cell phone video of the incident, Garner is heard saying repeatedly, "I can't breathe."