(Trayvon Martin protestors at Hollywood and Highland/Screenshot from NBC News)

What started as a peaceful but passionate protest in South L.A. Sunday afternoon turned chaotic after groups of people broke off from the large march and stopped traffic on the 10 Freeway at Crenshaw Boulevard.

Close to 100 protestors converged at Hollywood and Highland late Sunday evening and were met by more than 100 police officers in riot gear who began to make arrests after many refused to disperse. A large group of those protestors stormed the W Hotel in Hollywood late Sunday night before moving eastbound after police officers attempted to break up he crowd, NBC News reported.

One person was arrested for battery on a police officer, Officer Norma Eisenman told KPCC. Five others were cited for charges such as failing to disperse, excessively honking car horns, jaywalking, jumping on cars and possession of marijuana.

     SEE ALSO: Hundreds Of Trayvon Martin Protestors Close L.A. Streets

The Los Angeles Police Department called a citywide tactical alert Sunday evening, saying protesters threw rocks and batteries at officers just north of the freeway. LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith said police responded by firing nonlethal rounds of rubber bullets and bean bags. By late evening, demonstrators were marching on several streets and disrupting traffic.

Thousands of frustrated and angry protestors also rallied in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York the day after Zimmerman was cleared of all charges in Martin's February 2012 death in Florida by a six-woman jury.

In New York City, more than a thousand people marched into Times Square on Sunday night, zigzagging through Manhattan's streets to avoid police lines, said Fox News.

Oakland police officers said some protestors broke windows, burned U.S. flags, started street fires and vandalized police vehicles.

In a statement Sunday, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said Martin's death "raised powerful, incredibly difficult issues" surrounding racial profiling, but she criticized vandals who "dishonored the memory of Trayvon by engaging in violent activities that hurt our growing economy and endangered people."

     SEE ALSO: California Protests George Zimmerman's Acquittal

Last night, Newly-elected Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted at protestors to hold peaceful demonstrations, writing: "Nonviolence is a powerful&just weapon..It is a sword that heals-MLK." Exercise 1st Amendment and practice peace in City of Angels tonight."

Another L.A. rally for Trayvon Martin is planned for 6 p.m. Monday in Leimert Park.