Rival rallies brought people to the streets Saturday in a Missouri town, two weeks after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer.
But authorities in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, where Brown was killed on August 9, reported the most peaceful night in two weeks of racially charged demonstrations -- some of them violent -- over the 18-year-old's death.
Michael Brown's funeral, set to take place Monday, is likely to be a focal point for more demonstrations by angry protesters demanding that Darren Wilson, the policeman who pulled the trigger, face justice.
There have been few signs of the protests spreading broadly to other parts of the United States.
But a rally took place in New York, and there were also weekend "peace festivals" set for St. Louis.
- Trayvon Martin parallels -
Parallels have been drawn between Brown and Trayvon Martin, the unarmed African-American teenager shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida in 2012.
His father Tracy was expected to address an event later Saturday.
But there has also been support here for Wilson, who has gone underground since shooting Brown at least six times.
"Until you know the facts, you have no idea the situation he's in," Beth Zeiner, an insurance reviewer wearing a blue t-shirt with an "Officer Darren Wilson" badge sown on it told AFP.
"His life is also destroyed. There are so many factors, but it has been one-sided from what we have seen."
She noted that many businesses have suffered greatly after days of looting, and may never be able to recover.
"It's time that we all try to work together instead of always putting a wedge into things with races," Zeiner said.
House cleaner Laura, who did not want to give her last name, also wore a t-shirt in support of Wilson.
"I don't think there is any possibility of a fair trial at this point, because basically, (the policeman) has been tried already by the media and by the public, and by people who have allowed their emotions to overrule any reason that they may have," she said.
"It's going to be ugly for a while, I believe... But if we don't stand up for our police officers, if we don't stand up for our rights, they will be trampled."
- Daily injustice -
Sandra Fifer, a middle-aged woman who has been protesting on the main thoroughfare of West Florissant Avenue this past week, said protesters feel African Americans are treated unequally.
"We're not allowed, if I played my loud music that I like, had a barbecue with a bunch of African Americans, they would tell us to break it up," she said.
"Why? What are we doing different than them?"
One Facebook user said he was traveling 560 miles (900 kilometers) to attend the rally, which was to take place on both Saturday and Sunday in St. Louis.
In Staten Island, a borough of New York City, thousands demonstrated to protest the death of a black man placed in a chokehold by police who subsequently died.
Eric Garner, 43, a father of six who was suspected of illegally selling cigarettes, was wrestled to the ground by several white police officers after resisting arrest on July 17.
An amateur video showed police subduing him with a chokehold.
Garner, who was obese and asthmatic and repeatedly complained he could not breathe, lost consciousness and was pronounced dead of a heart attack after being transferred to hospital.
"I'm here for the world to see there is stuff happening here. We have police brutality here -- bad cops who are not doing their job," Tricia Mackmenbourgh told AFP in New York.
"This is always happening in our community. Everyone has the right to feel safe," added the mother of three sons who came from Brooklyn to attend the gathering.
"Ferguson, Staten Island, that's all tied in."
Earlier in Ferguson, the police officer tasked with restoring security to the town, said late Friday he had seen a small but peaceful protest.
"We had to respond to fewer incidents tonight. There were no fires, no shootings and we did not seize a single handgun," Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson told CNN.
"Tonight's lack of conflict is further proof that good things are happening in Ferguson."
He noted that there were 47 arrests Tuesday night, six Wednesday night and seven Thursday night. There were no arrests Friday night.
Rival rallies brought people to the streets Saturday in a Missouri town, two weeks after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer.
But authorities in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, where Brown was killed on August 9, reported the most peaceful night in two weeks of racially charged demonstrations — some of them violent — over the 18-year-old’s death.
Michael Brown’s funeral, set to take place Monday, is likely to be a focal point for more demonstrations by angry protesters demanding that Darren Wilson, the policeman who pulled the trigger, face justice.
There have been few signs of the protests spreading broadly to other parts of the United States.
But a rally took place in New York, and there were also weekend “peace festivals” set for St. Louis.
– Trayvon Martin parallels –
Parallels have been drawn between Brown and Trayvon Martin, the unarmed African-American teenager shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida in 2012.
His father Tracy was expected to address an event later Saturday.
But there has also been support here for Wilson, who has gone underground since shooting Brown at least six times.
“Until you know the facts, you have no idea the situation he’s in,” Beth Zeiner, an insurance reviewer wearing a blue t-shirt with an “Officer Darren Wilson” badge sown on it told AFP.
“His life is also destroyed. There are so many factors, but it has been one-sided from what we have seen.”
She noted that many businesses have suffered greatly after days of looting, and may never be able to recover.
“It’s time that we all try to work together instead of always putting a wedge into things with races,” Zeiner said.
House cleaner Laura, who did not want to give her last name, also wore a t-shirt in support of Wilson.
“I don’t think there is any possibility of a fair trial at this point, because basically, (the policeman) has been tried already by the media and by the public, and by people who have allowed their emotions to overrule any reason that they may have,” she said.
“It’s going to be ugly for a while, I believe… But if we don’t stand up for our police officers, if we don’t stand up for our rights, they will be trampled.”
– Daily injustice –
Sandra Fifer, a middle-aged woman who has been protesting on the main thoroughfare of West Florissant Avenue this past week, said protesters feel African Americans are treated unequally.
“We’re not allowed, if I played my loud music that I like, had a barbecue with a bunch of African Americans, they would tell us to break it up,” she said.
“Why? What are we doing different than them?”
One Facebook user said he was traveling 560 miles (900 kilometers) to attend the rally, which was to take place on both Saturday and Sunday in St. Louis.
In Staten Island, a borough of New York City, thousands demonstrated to protest the death of a black man placed in a chokehold by police who subsequently died.
Eric Garner, 43, a father of six who was suspected of illegally selling cigarettes, was wrestled to the ground by several white police officers after resisting arrest on July 17.
An amateur video showed police subduing him with a chokehold.
Garner, who was obese and asthmatic and repeatedly complained he could not breathe, lost consciousness and was pronounced dead of a heart attack after being transferred to hospital.
“I’m here for the world to see there is stuff happening here. We have police brutality here — bad cops who are not doing their job,” Tricia Mackmenbourgh told AFP in New York.
“This is always happening in our community. Everyone has the right to feel safe,” added the mother of three sons who came from Brooklyn to attend the gathering.
“Ferguson, Staten Island, that’s all tied in.”
Earlier in Ferguson, the police officer tasked with restoring security to the town, said late Friday he had seen a small but peaceful protest.
“We had to respond to fewer incidents tonight. There were no fires, no shootings and we did not seize a single handgun,” Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson told CNN.
“Tonight’s lack of conflict is further proof that good things are happening in Ferguson.”
He noted that there were 47 arrests Tuesday night, six Wednesday night and seven Thursday night. There were no arrests Friday night.
