Michael Brown's Father Asks for Peace on Eve of His Son's Funeral

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Dave Urbanski

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The father of an 18-year-old shot to death by a police officer in Ferguson is asking for a "day of silence" as he lays his son to rest.

The funeral for Michael Brown is scheduled for Monday morning.

At a festival Sunday in St. Louis, Michael Brown Sr. told the crowd that all he wants Monday is peace. He says he appreciates all the love and support from people in the community.

The Rev. Al Sharpton will speak at the funeral and added to Brown's request, the AP reported.

"We don't want anything tomorrow to happen that might defile the name of Michael Brown," Sharpton said, the AP noted. "This is not about our rage tomorrow. It's about the legacy and memory of his son."

Hundreds of people are gathered in the largest park in St. Louis for Peace Fest 2014, which was planned before Brown's Aug. 9 death but took on new resonance after it. The annual festival encourages peace over violence.

The more than two weeks since Brown's death have been marked by nightly protests, some of them violent and chaotic.