More than 100 arrested at New York police protests

More than 100 people were arrested in New York at protests over alleged police brutality against African Americans, officials said Thursday.

Thousands gathered Wednesday night in New York to demonstrate over the death of Freddie Gray, who succumbed to serious spinal injuries after his arrest in Baltimore.

Police in New York said the arrests were for various reasons.

"We have more than one hundred people arrested. The reasons are varied, mostly disorderly conduct," a New York Police Department spokesman told AFP.

Protesters gathered in Manhattan's Union Square on Wednesday, following calls on social media to demonstrate in solidarity with Baltimore, the site of daily demonstrations since Gray's death on April 19.

Rallies also took place in Boston and the US capital Washington on Wednesday, as simmering anger over alleged police brutality against blacks and discrimination again bubble to the surface.

Baltimore protests turned violent Monday, and officials there have called for calm in the wake of the unrest, imposing a 10:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew which remains in place.