11 Durham protesters arrested; marches held across US

The arrests happened around 9:45 p.m. on Swift Avenue near the Durham Freeway. The group joined thousands of other protesters across the U.S. to bring attention to the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police.

Demonstrators nationwide chanted "I can't breathe!" ''Hands up, don't shoot!" and waved signs that read "Black lives matter!" as family members of three victims packed a stage in front of the U.S. Capitol, urging thousands of supportive marchers to keep pressing for changes to the criminal justice system.

The march in Washington on Saturday – attended by family members for Michael Brown and Eric Garner, who were killed by police in recent months, and Amadou Diallo, who was fatally shot by police more than 15 years ago – coincided with nationwide demonstrations that spanned from iconic Fifth Avenue in New York to the streets of San Francisco and the steps of the Boston Statehouse.

Most were peaceful protests, although about two dozen people were arrested in the Massachusetts capital for disorderly conduct.

Protesters also marched in Fayetteville on Saturday, but no was arrested. Organizers had originally planned the march as a die-in, but decided on a unity march down Skibo Road in effort to bring the community together.

"We actually had the police department supporting us, walking with us and that showed a lot of integrity," said Felicia Jordan.

Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock described the protest as peaceful.

"I think Fayetteville, North Carolina, today showed the rest of this country that demonstrators can be positive. Folks can get their message across, no matter what the message is," Medlock said.

Durham's protest did not end as peacefully. Those arrested included:

Earlier this month, 31 people were arrested in Durham after a round of protests against what demonstrators call over-aggressive police tactics.