Nearly 1,000 people marched through Center City during a protest for Mike Brown and Eric Garner Sunday night.

The Philadelphia “Blackout” march began at 7 p.m. on 1500 Arch Street. Hundreds of protesters marched around City Hall through Dilworth Plaza and eventually stopped at the statue of former Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo. Raheem Harvey, one of the event organizers, told NBC10 the goal of the demonstration was to “unify the people and give them an opportunity to speak.”

“As a human being we have a right to humanity,” Harvey said. “Everyone is entitled to first class citizenship regardless of the color of their skin.”

Some of the protesters gathered at the AT&T station on the Broad Street Line around 5:45 p.m. They took the subway into Center City while singing the words, “I can’t breathe,” the last words of Eric Garner before his death.

Harvey also said the protesters specifically chose to end their demonstration at the Frank Rizzo statue based on what they believe the former Philadelphia mayor stood for.

“He is an individual who was responsible for police brutality, especially towards the African American community,” Harvey said. “Here we have an individual who has his hands raised, waiving out to the people. No one thinks something is wrong with that. We definitely plan to make a statement there. We plan on working with the city to have it removed."

The protesters repeatedly chanted "black lives matter," and carried a banner which read, "fight hate with love." They also held a "die-in" demonstration on the Parkway.

The rally shut down several streets in Center City for a few hours. No arrests were reported however.

Harvey told NBC10 the ultimate goal of the demonstrators is to spark change within the Philadelphia Police Department.

“We want to be able to have a voice when it comes to the concerns of the community,” he said. “A police officer’s job is to provide customer service and to also establish the law. With that in mind we need to make sure that when investigations happen within the police department, the public is fully aware. There should not be any close door investigation.”

The protest was one of many that have occurred nationwide in response to two separate grand jury decisions not to indict the officers involved in the deaths of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

The protest also took place a day after two NYPD officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, were shot and killed by a gunman in Brooklyn during an ambush attack. The suspect in the shooting, who ultimately took his own life, posted on social media that he intended to “take 2 of theirs” prior to the incident, according to investigators. Investigators also believe the suspect shot and injured his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore before coming to New York.

The fatal shooting of the two officers sparked claims from some that the nationwide protests and anti-police rhetoric inspired the shooter. In New York City, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch also linked the killings to violence against police during recent protest demonstrations and even claimed that NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio had “blood on his hands” for his apparent lack of support for law enforcement.

Harvey expressed his condolences for the NYC officers and their families while also stating the suspect in their deaths was not associated with his movement.

“My heart is with the family and also my prayers,” Harvey said. “We are not against police. We are against police brutality. No one deserves to have their lives taken. It should have never happened. The person is isolated from the movement but he’s using the movement to get his message across. But that’s a totally isolated incident.”

Members of the Philadelphia Police Civil Affairs Unit were on hand to monitor the protest.

A man was struck and killed by a train Sunday night near 30th Street Station.

The unidentified man was on the tracks at Market and South 31st streets around 9:50 p.m. when he was struck by a Trenton Line SEPTA train. He later died from his injuries.

There were about 100 passengers on the train at the time of the accident. They were transferred to another train, according to a SEPTA spokesperson.

Fire and rescue officials were called to the scene. Other trains are still running as scheduled.

This story is developing. Stay with NBC10.com for updates.

With tensions rising due to the shooting deaths of two NYPD officers as well as the ongoing protests for Mike Brown and Eric Garner, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has a clear message for everyone involved.

“Everyone needs to calm down,” Commissioner Ramsey said. “Things have gotten way out of hand. What we need is thoughtful discussion. Obviously there’s a need to change, a need to change by everyone.”

Ramsey, who was recently named the co-chair of President Obama’s task force on 21st Century policing, received a phone call from the President Sunday afternoon. During the call, Obama expressed his outrage over the shooting deaths of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu and asked Ramsey to "explore meaningful ways to engage law enforcement officials from across the nation."

"The President reiterated his profound respect and gratitude for all law enforcement officers who serve and protect our communities, risking their own safety for ours everyday," said White House spokesman Eric Schultz. "The President offered his assistance, and made clear Administration officials will continue to monitor the situation in New York, and support the important work of the Task Force."

Since the deaths of Brown and Garner as well as the decisions not to indict the officers involved in their deaths, Ramsey has witnessed the anger expressed towards police both nationwide as well as in Philadelphia. Ramsey told NBC10 he believes changes need to be made on both sides.

“Police certainly need to rethink strategies that are used, interactions with the community and things of that nature,” Ramsey said. “The community needs to take an inward look as well at some of the violence taking place. There are ways in which they can work with us to stop the violence that is occurring in the neighborhoods every single day.”

Ramsey commended protesters in Philadelphia for remaining peaceful.

“Here in Philadelphia it’s been good, it’s been peaceful,” he said. “I can only think of two arrests that have been made during the entire time that we’ve had protests. Aside from that there haven’t been any incidents. A lot of loud yelling and screaming. But we can handle that.”

Ramsey also expressed his condolences for the families of Officer Ramos and Officer Liu, who were shot and killed during an ambush attack in Brooklyn Saturday.

“I’ve spoken with Commissioner Bratton three times since that’s happened,” Ramsey said. “They’re doing the best they can. It’s a tough period of time. We’ve had this happen before in Philadelphia.”

Ramsey, who called Bratton “one of the best police leaders in the country,” is confident the NYPD will be able to endure.

“He will guide his department through it, no doubt,” Ramsey said.

The shooter, identified by police as 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, took his own life after killing the officers, according to investigators. Investigators believe Brinsley, who also allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore prior to the Brooklyn shooting, posted a threatening message on a social media account before the incident, according to one law enforcement source. "They take 1 of ours, let's take 2 of theirs," said the post on Instagram, which was accompanied by a photo of a silver handgun.

"I'm putting wings on pigs today," the post added.

Ramsey told NBC10 he believed that some criticisms claiming anti-police rhetoric during demonstrations for Eric Garner and Mike Brown played a role in the officers’ deaths were “fair.” He specifically referred to some protesters who reportedly chanted, “What do we want? Dead police! When do we want it? Now!”

“I think that can incite,” Ramsey said. “We have a lot of violent people unfortunately, in our society and it doesn’t take much to trigger something. I’m not saying that happened here but clearly from the writings on his Instagram, the deaths of Garner and Brown were certainly part of it as well as other things. I think everyone just needs to be careful with what they say and choose their words carefully.”

Ramsey has had several meetings with community leaders in Philadelphia. He also spoke on members of Philadelphia’s African American community who had distrust towards law enforcement.

“We encourage more African Americans to get involved in law enforcement,” Ramsey said. “If you really are interested in change then you change from within. It’s a lot easier than trying to change from the outside.”

Ramsey also spoke about his own son, a 28-year-old African American man who recently became a police officer.

“I want him to be able to protect himself when he’s out there,” Ramsey said. “At the same time, don’t get an attitude that everyone’s against you because they aren’t. Be vigilant but have a measured response to everything that you do.”

Finally, Ramsey repeated the theme of trust in regards to finding a solution for the disconnect between the community and the police.

“At some point in time we’ve got to give one another a chance,” Ramsey said. “Police have to trust the community and the community has to trust the police. Everyone wants safety and security. But the only way to achieve it is by having everyone working together.”

Two masked men carrying guns left a worker hurt during a robbery inside a Main Line convenience store overnight.

The heist went down around 12:30 a.m. inside the 7-Eleven store at City Avenue and 54th Street in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.

The armed suspects demanded the clerk turn over money. Some sort of struggle ensued that left the employee with minor injuries, said Lower Merion Township Police.

The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene.

Philadelphia Police found a badly beaten abduction victim believed to have been taken from a home miles away from where he was found.

It wasn’t clear what led to the abduction overnight.

Monday morning, officers could be seen responded an industrial property near the intersection of N 7th Street and W Chew Avenue. They said that the man was beaten at that location by a group of masked men.

The attack left the victim hospitalized.

The incident began with an abduction around 1 a.m. along the 2000 block of Cranston Road in the Wynnefield Heights section of the city — that’s more than six miles away, said police.

Police took at least one suspect into custody. Officers could also be seen guarding two cars that they said contained weapons parked at a Pathmark a short distance from whee the abduction began.

Investigators remained on the scenes Monday morning as Philadelphia detectives searched for clues.

Here are the 10 things you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.

TODAY'S TOP STORY

Shane Montgomery's Keys Found: Over three weeks after West Chester University student Shane Montgomery went missing in Manayunk, officials found the student's personal keys. The Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit, a volunteer diving recovery team, discovered the 21-year-old West Chester University student's personal keys in the Schuylkill River after searching for four and a half hours Sunday. Read more about what the discovery means for the ongoing search for the missing student here.

YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST

Winter officially began this weekend. Prepare for a cold start this morning and get ready for several days of rain, beginning Monday night. We may see milder temperatures on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. High temp: 41 degrees. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

Commissioner Ramsey Speaks on Police, Community Tension: Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey urged calm in communities where tensions are rising due to the shooting deaths of two NYPD officers and ongoing protests following grand jury decisions in the Mike Brown and Eric Garner cases. Ramsey, who was recently named the co-chair of President Obama’s task force on 21st Century policing, is working closely with the president to promote peace between police officers across the country and the people in the communities they serve. Read Ramsey's full remarks here. 

AROUND THE WORLD

North Korea Threatens U.S.: North Korean officials said in a statement Sunday that the army and people of North Korea "are fully ready to stand in confrontation with the U.S. in all war spaces including cyber warfare space." North Korean officials added that they appreciate the work of those who hacked Sony Pictures, but don't know who the culprits are. The officials also accused the U.S. government of being "deeply involved" in the making of the film, "The Interview." The statement — issued by the policy department of the North's National Defense Commission — included threats to "all the citadels" of the U.S.

• MORE ON NORTH KOREA THREAT

TODAY'S TALKER

Christie Seeks Obama's Support in Extradition: Gov. Chris Christie has penned a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to extradite Joanne Chesimard. Chesimard was convicted of killing New Jersey state tropper Werner Foerster more than 40 years ago. Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur is the aunt of late rapper Tupac Shakur. She escaped from prison and was granted asylum in Cuba by Fidel Castro.

In the letter, Christie said he didn't agree with the president's recently announced plans to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, but said bringing Chesimard back to the U.S. to finish her sentence was an opportunity to bring justice to Foerster's family. Read more about Christie's request here.

SPORTS SPOT

Eagles Eliminated: The Philadelphia Eagles took a loss against the Washington Redskins on Saturday. The team's last hope for clinching a spot in the playoffs was terminated when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, officially exlimnating the Eagles from the post season. The Flyers score a win in an overtime comeback against Winnepeg. The 76ers win against Orlando. CSNPhilly has the details.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

See more Top News Photos here.

THROUGH IGER'S EYES

This great photo by @parkwaymuseumsdistrict shows the Swann Memorial Fountain at Logan Circle near Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The fountain was designed by Alexander Stirling, and has become one of Philly's gems.

Have an awesome Instagram photo you'd like to share. Tag it with #NBC10Buzz.

TODAY'S VIRAL VIDEO

If you need a little something to get in the Christmas spirit, check out this awesome light sequence to the tune of Star Wars music. The creator of the video say the light display is used to raise money for the poor and homeless. 

A LITTLE SWEETENER

Soldier Receives Holiday Homecoming: A local community celebrated army specialist Collin Tidd's homecoming for the holidays after serving nine months in Afghanistan. Watch the emotional welcome here.

That's what you need to know. We've got more stories worthy of your time in the Breakfast Buzz section. Click here to check them out. 

A large police presence responded to a South Jersey doctor’s office Monday morning for a barricade situation.

The standoff occurred after 9 a.m. an office along Bypass Road (Route 540), near Memorial Hospital, in Mannington Township, New Jersey.

The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office said a person was barricaded inside the office. At least one other person was in the office at the time, said New Jersey State Police.

It wasn't clear if the man was armed, said police.

The situation ended after about one hour with the man surrendering without further incident, said police.

No injuries were reported.

UPDATE: Police crews continued their search on the Schuylkill River Monday.

More than three weeks after his disappearance, officials found the keys of missing college student Shane Montgomery.

The Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit, a volunteer diving recovery team, discovered the 21-year-old West Chester University student's personal keys in the Schuylkill River after searching for four and a half hours Sunday. No further evidence has been found however.

The Roxborough native was last seen early Thanksgiving morning as he left Kildare's Irish Pub along Main Street in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk.

Pings from his cellphone put him within a mile of the bar within an hour of his disappearance and surveillance video shows the West Chester University student walking toward the Manayunk Canal and Schuylkill River. Despite many searches on land, in the water and from the air, there have been no strong leads as to where Montgomery went.

Each day without Shane has been wearing on his family, said Kevin Verbrugghe, Shane's uncle.

"We’re not holding up well," Verbrugghe said.

Ongoing search efforts, including the use of sonar and underwriter cameras in a search of the Schuylkill River, have brought about few clues for Shane, who was last seen walking toward the Manayunk Canal.

"The prevailing theory is that he went into the river and where is he now? Tides change and there’s all kinds of debris under there," FBI Supervisory Special agent J.J. Klaver said Thursday.

Debris could have trapped the missing college student's body underwater, he explained.

A reward for information that leads investigators and the family to Montgomery still stands at $65,000. Friends and family continue to support the search efforts on their own as well.

Anyone with information is asked to call Philadelphia police at 215.686.TIPS.

A robber forced his way into a 76-year-old woman’s home, pushed her to the ground and bound her hands together after stealing jewelry off her body.

The woman responded to a knock at her door to find a man claiming he worked with a home health care company. The victim told police he pushed her to her couch and stole the jewelry she was wearing.

Police continue to investigate the crime that occurred Saturday at 6:21 p.m. The victim, a resident of Exton Crossing development in West Whiteland Township, alleges she was threatened into cooperating while the man stole jewelry from her apartment. Most of the jewelry was recovered later in a home located in Spring City.

Investigators are looking for two suspects, Leonard Bernard, 36, of Philadelphia and Briana Mitchell, 41, of Spring City.

Bernard and Mitchell have been charged with robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and related crimes.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the West Whiteland Township Police Department at 610-363-0200 or 610-692-5100.

A road closure could cause major hassles for folks trying to get some last-minute shopping done before Christmas.

Water crews — looking to fix a weekend water main break — will close Easton Road (Route 611) near Park Avenue in Willow Grove Monday starting at 9 a.m., according to Upper Moreland Township Police.

The intersection is a short distance from Willow Grove Mall and sits behind the township library and the Marshalls/Home Goods shopping center across the street from the mall.

Police warned that the work could continue until 1 p.m. and could affect shopping traffic.

Route 263 (York Road), Moreland Road (Route 63) and side streets could be used as alternates but police warned motorists that traffic could slow on those roads.

A man posed as a Wawa employee to swipe hundreds of dollars worth of cigarettes from a South Jersey Wawa store last week.

The caught-on-camera heist occurred Wednesday morning around 10:15 at the Wawa in Burlington Township.

A man with a Wawa baseball cap could be seen entering the store at 2003 Mt. Holly Road and then walking behind the counter, said Burlington Township Police. The man then took about 30 cartons of cigarettes and dipped out of a side door, said police.

He then got into the passenger seat of a white vehicle, possibly a convertible, before the vehicle pulled off onto Mt. Holly Road toward Burlington City, investigators said.

Police asked anyone with knowledge of the heist or who recognizes the suspect to call them at 609-386-2019 and refer to case 2014-20245.

A day after crews found the keys of a missing college student, dive crews returned to the Schuylkill River Monday as they searched for clues in Shane Montgomery’s disappearance.

Shane was last seen early Thanksgiving when he left Kildare’s Irish Pub on Main Street in Manayunk during a night out with friends.

Surveillance video last captured the 21-year-old Roxborough native walking toward the Manayunk Canal and Schuylkill River, according to investigators.

"The prevailing theory is that he went into the river and where is he now? Tides change and there’s all kinds of debris under there," FBI Supervisory Special agent J.J. Klaver said Thursday.

Shane’s “heartbroken” mother Karen Montgomery told the Daily News over the weekend that she wants closure.

"My son is somewhere in that river, and I need to find him and I need to bring him home," she said.

The Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit, a volunteer diving recovery team based out of New Jersey, discovered the West Chester University student's personal keys in the Schuylkill River after searching for four and a half hours Sunday. The keys were the first item of Shane's to be found in the water since he went missing on Nov. 27.

On Monday, marine crews could be seen pulling into a lot just below Boathouse Row.

Philadelphia Police confirmed that a search crew was out on the water Monday and by midday divers could be seen entering the water off Main Street in Manayunk as Shane's parents watched from the river bank.

A reward for information that leads investigators and the family to Montgomery still stands at $65,000. Anyone with information should contact Philadelphia Police at 215.686.TIPS.

One of the busiest highways in South Jersey will be closed to traffic for the next two nights as part of a new interchange construction project.

The northbound lanes of Route 42 in Bellmawr, New Jersey shut down at 11 p.m. Monday and will shut down again Tuesday at 11 p.m., Camden County officials said. The road will be reopened by 5 a.m. after each closure.

Crews will be replacing wood sheeting on new bridge beams near the Creek Road overpass, officials said.

The work is being done as part of the eight year, $900 million reconstruction of the Interstate 295, Route 42 and Interstate 76 interchange. The new interchange will provide a direct connection to all three highways.

An average of 250,000 vehicles travel that strech of the roadway everyday, officials said.

Lane closures will be done in segments with the one lane being shut down at 8 p.m., two lanes at 10 p.m. and then all lanes at 11 p.m., officials said.

Drivers will be diverted off Route 42 and onto I-295 Northbound and directed to Exit 27. Once off the highway, drivers will then be led back on to Route 42 to continue north.

The southbound lanes of the highway will remain open.

County officials are warning drivers to be aware of the detours and to expect delays.

The cause of death of a man whose body was found near the Mantua Creek Sunday was determined to be drowning, according to officials.

An autopsy was performed Monday on 58-year-old Theodore Smith III of Deptford, New Jersey. The Gloucester County Medical Examiner ruled his death accidental.

Smith’s body was found Sunday by a Deptford Township Police officer on the bank of the Mantua Creek in Mantua, New Jersey near the Route 45 overpass.

Smith was last seen leaving the Telford Inn in Mantua Saturday night, telling an employee he was walking home.  His body was discovered about a half mile away from his home and a short distance from the Telford Inn. His wife called police Sunday around 2 a.m. after he never arrived home. 
 

One person was hurt after a trash truck overturned and caught fire on Route 422 in Montgomery County.

The driver was traveling on Route 422 westbound at Armand Hammer Boulevard in Lower Pottsgrove at 3:45 p.m. Monday when he somehow lost control.

The vehicle flipped over and caught fire. The driver was able to get out and firefighters put out the blaze.

The driver was taken to the hospital though officials have not yet revealed his condition.

This story is developing. Stay with NBC10.com for updates.
 

They're ready to rescue people and animals from peril on the water at a moments notice, but now the South Jersey unit of the U.S. Coast Guard needs your help.

The Cape May, New Jersey-based unit is in the running to win the Coast Guard's Video of the Year contest.

Their rescue of an 800-pound leatherback turtle ensnared in fishing equipment 30 miles off the Jersey Shore this August was nominated for the yearly competition.

"It was one of my better experiences being in the Coast Guard, just seeing the animal so close and helping marine life," Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Giannaris, one of the turtle’s rescuers, said over the summer.

Giannaris and his fellow sailors do have some tough competition. Other nominated videos include the helicopter evacuation of a container ship crew hurt after being hit by a large wave, high-speed water pursuit training and aircrew members learning how to get out of a sinking chopper.

You can vote for the South Jersey unit by commenting on the Coast Guard's blog post here. Also by liking the video on YouTube and Facebook.

Voting closes on Jan. 4, 2015 and the winner will be announced the next day.