Black Friday traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping frenzy. The National Retail Federation says the average American will spend about 970-dollars on holiday gifts this year.
Nearly 70 percent of Americans surveyed said they are likely to shop online or in stores during Thanksgiving weekend.
Many retailers offered Thanksgiving Day specials on big-ticket items such as TVs with stores opening last night.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday add up to the busiest shopping week of the year.
Activists are planning another Black Friday march on Chicago's Mag Mile to demand justice for the Laquan McDonald shooting.
The Day of Defiance is set to begin at 10 this morning near the Water Tower. Downtown demonstrations have become a holiday tradition since the 2015 release of video showing the deadly police shooting of McDonald.
Protesters hope to disrupt access to high-end stores along Michigan Avenue.
