A National Moment of Silence was held in cities around the nation last night to remember those brutally killed by police officers. Thousands converged on parks in Miami, Baltimore, Chicago, and New York City. At 7:20 pm they paused to reflect.

In Washington D.C., vigil attendees read the names of victims and shared stories of police brutality in their communities. Tear filled eyes were seen in the crowd, while others expressed anger and outrage at yet another instance of police brutality: the killing of Michael Brown.

Diego Sanchez, a member of PFLAG held a sign that read ‘I Am A Man,’ which were common during Civil Rights protests of the 1960s at Meridian Park. Others held signs which conveyed simple but important messages: ‘All Lives Matter,’ ‘This Is Not A Riot,’ and ‘Film The Police.’

In New York City thousands held vigil at Union Square which spontaneously transformed into a march to Times Square. New York City police arrested several protestors. In Baltimore crowds rallied and marched to a barricaded police headquarters. Though tensions were high, the vigils were largely peaceful with no reports of injuries or property damage.

The National Moment of Silence was called due to heightened civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. Scenes of heavily armed militarized police clashing with protestors have been smeared across social media. The Ferguson Police response to protesters has been placed in the national spotlight while the country comes to terms with yet another gunned down Black youth by police under dubious circumstances.

As the week has unfolded in Ferguson, tear-gas canisters and flash bang grenades being fired at peaceful protestors have become the norm. Alli Cannington, in Washington, D.C. said she was disheartened by police misconduct. “Each life inherently matters and the fact that these lives don’t seem to matter is horrifying,” said Cannington.

The photos and videos of Ferguson police attacks on peaceful protests triggered a sympathetic National response by those who have been victimized by police brutality, said Cannington. “I’m here for Michael Brown and countless other Black men who are victims of police brutality in this country,” she said.

As the night ended, there were reports of lessening tensions in Ferguson as local police were ordered to stand down while state police assumed crowd control.

More pictures and videos from events around the country.