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Father asks for peace in Ferguson

Michael Brown Jr. laid to rest today
Reverend Al Sharpton, right, introduces the father of slain teen Michael Brown, Michael Brown, Sr., center, to the crowd at Peace Fest on Sunday in St. Louis. “(Today), all I want is peace,” Brown Sr. told hundreds of people in St. Louis’ largest city park.

ST. LOUIS – The father of the black 18-year-old shot to death by a white police officer in Ferguson pleaded Sunday for a “day of silence” as he lays his son to rest today.

“(Today), all I want is peace,” Michael Brown Sr. told hundreds of people in St. Louis’ largest city park during brief remarks at a festival that promotes peace over violence. “That’s all I ask.”

The more than two weeks since Michael Brown’s death have been marked by nightly protests, some violent and chaotic, although tensions have eased in recent days.

Brown Sr. told the crowd that he and his son’s mother appreciate the love and support they’ve received from the community. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who will speak at the funeral, echoed his request for peace.

“We don’t want anything (today) to happen that might defile the name of Michael Brown,” Sharpton said. “This is not about our rage (today). It’s about the legacy and memory of his son.”

Lesley McSpadden, Michael Brown’s mother, appeared on stage with Sharpton, who told the crowd that McSpadden and her family saw Brown’s body for the first time today since the day of the shooting.

After McSpadden took the microphone, she broke down and covered her face with her left hand. The crowd began to chant, “We love you. We love you. We love you.” McSpadden composed herself for a moment and softly said, “Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you.”

Peace Fest 2014 was already in the works before Officer Darren Wilson shot Brown Aug. 9 in a St. Louis suburb, but it took on new resonance in the aftermath.

The parents of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin also spoke, urging the crowd to channel its anger into action by pushing to strengthen families and better educate youth and expressing support for the Brown family and the people of the St. Louis area.

“We’re going to stand tall with you all,” Trayvon’s Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, said.

The nightly protests in Ferguson have been mostly peaceful in recent days, a contrast to images of police in riot gear firing tear gas canisters at angry protesters in the days after the Brown shooting. Tensions briefly flared then subsided late Saturday night and early Sunday.

Niesha Thomas, who attended Peace Fest, said she hopes the event marks “a new start” in which people put “irrelevant, unproductive” disputes behind them.

“This should be a pivotal point where we move forward,” Thomas said.



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