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Michael Brown shooting: Activists appeal for calm | Michael Brown shooting: Activists appeal for calm |
(35 minutes later) | |
Civil rights activists have called for calm and for police transparency in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by police. | Civil rights activists have called for calm and for police transparency in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by police. |
The death on Saturday of Michael Brown, 18, has sparked two nights of unrest. | The death on Saturday of Michael Brown, 18, has sparked two nights of unrest. |
"To become violent in Michael Brown's name is to betray the gentle giant he was," said the Revered Al Sharpton, flanked by Mr Brown's parents. | "To become violent in Michael Brown's name is to betray the gentle giant he was," said the Revered Al Sharpton, flanked by Mr Brown's parents. |
President Barack Obama also urged peace, saying: "Remember this young man through reflection and understanding." | |
In a statement, he said the incident was "heartbreaking". | |
"We should comfort each other and talk with one another in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds," he said. | |
The FBI and the US justice department's civil rights division have opened an investigation into the shooting. | The FBI and the US justice department's civil rights division have opened an investigation into the shooting. |
Mr Sharpton said he had spoken to Mr Brown's family and they had told him they wanted "justice and fairness in the process of losing their son". | Mr Sharpton said he had spoken to Mr Brown's family and they had told him they wanted "justice and fairness in the process of losing their son". |
Referring to the violence and looting, he said no-one had the right to take Michael Brown's name and "drag it through the mud". | |
"Some of us are making the story how mad we are, rather than how promising he was," he said. | "Some of us are making the story how mad we are, rather than how promising he was," he said. |
Speaking after around 50 demonstrators marched on the police headquarters, Mr Sharpton joined others in demanding police reveal the name of the officer who shot and killed Mr Brown. | |
"The local authorities have put themselves in a position, hiding names, not being transparent, where people will not trust anything but an objective investigation," Mr Sharpton said. | "The local authorities have put themselves in a position, hiding names, not being transparent, where people will not trust anything but an objective investigation," Mr Sharpton said. |
Police say death threats on social media have prevented them naming the officer. | |
Dozens of people have been arrested since Sunday, when unrest broke out in the town following Brown's death. | Dozens of people have been arrested since Sunday, when unrest broke out in the town following Brown's death. |
The Tuesday protests were peaceful if tense, but they came after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a large crowd in Ferguson the night before. | The Tuesday protests were peaceful if tense, but they came after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a large crowd in Ferguson the night before. |
Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson said a group which had gathered at a burned-out convenience store became rowdy at dusk | Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson said a group which had gathered at a burned-out convenience store became rowdy at dusk |
Members of the crowd threw rocks at police, he said, and there was gunfire coming from the crowd. | Members of the crowd threw rocks at police, he said, and there was gunfire coming from the crowd. |
Thirty-two people were arrested on Sunday night after people looted shops, vandalised cars and stores, and set a building alight. | Thirty-two people were arrested on Sunday night after people looted shops, vandalised cars and stores, and set a building alight. |
The FBI is investigating the shooting and US Attorney General Eric Holder said the case deserved a "fulsome review". | The FBI is investigating the shooting and US Attorney General Eric Holder said the case deserved a "fulsome review". |
The justice department has also sent its community relations team to the area. | The justice department has also sent its community relations team to the area. |
Police say Brown was shot several times after a struggle in a police car on Saturday, but witnesses have said Brown was shot when he had his arms raised. | Police say Brown was shot several times after a struggle in a police car on Saturday, but witnesses have said Brown was shot when he had his arms raised. |
Police have not commented on such eyewitness reports, citing their ongoing investigation. | Police have not commented on such eyewitness reports, citing their ongoing investigation. |
The officer involved has been with the Ferguson police department for six years, and has been placed on paid administrative leave. | The officer involved has been with the Ferguson police department for six years, and has been placed on paid administrative leave. |