Father seeks peace at Brown's funeral

Monday, August 25, 2014

ST. LOUIS -- The father of a 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.

"Tomorrow, all I want is peace," Michael Brown Sr. told hundreds of people Sunday 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 the death of his son, Michael Brown, have been marked by nightly protests, some violent and chaotic, though tensions have eased in recent days.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who will speak at the funeral, echoed the request for peace.

"We don't want anything tomorrow to happen that might defile the name of Michael Brown," Sharpton said. "This is not about our rage tomorrow. 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 Sunday for the first time since the day of the shooting.

Peace Fest 2014 was already in the works before officer Darren Wilson shot the younger Brown on 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 youths.

A Section on 08/25/2014