Protesters counted to 50; the number of shots police fired November 25th in the Queens shooting that killed Sean Bell and wounded his two friends.

"They didn't have to kill him."

Thousands showed up at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue for the protest, headed by Al Sharpton. He marched with Trent Benefield, wounded in the shooting, and families of the victims.

"There were no confrontations with police. We made the point that needed to be made," said Sharpton.

The march was called 'Shopping for Justice', and protestors walked down one of the city's main avenues on one of the busiest holiday shopping days of the year.

"50 shots get out of the store."

A message that, along with the gridlock, met with mixed reactions among shoppers.

"After I find out there is a demonstration here I am glad they are doing this. I mean they are not right shooting a guy for no reason? 50 bullets that's ridiculous," said one holiday shopper.

Another shopper along Fifth Avenue said, "those people have a right to do their march, but we have a right to do our shopping."

The march was initially limited to just one lane of the street, but soon protesters took over all of Fifth Avenue. It was all to raise awareness about the shooting and what many protestors said was a pattern of police misconduct in non-white communities.

Protester Ted Gerard said, "It's not a black or white thing it's about people. It's a misuse of power and that's what it's about."

Protesters are calling for a special federal prosecutor to investigate allegations of excessive force, as well as changes in police tactics.

"To get tactical changes in the police force on how they handle undercover policing in New York City," said Ken Cohen of the NAACP.

"Today was a very successful day to raise the issue, but it was only the beginning. It is not at all the end," said Sharpton.

Sharpton says the next step will be what he called direct action, such as boycotts or civil disobedience.