Michael Brown Shooting: Obama Calls for Calm
Terming the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager as "tragic", President Barack Obama appealed Tuesday, for calm and thoughtful response in Ferguson, Missouri, after two nights of violent protests.
Post the shooting of Michael Brown Saturday, aggressive protesters took to the streets and indulged in looting. Arrests and tear gas were a common scenario for two nights in a row in this St. Louis suburb - which consists of a large African-American population. As unrest spread, shops were looted; scores were taken into custody by the police, who fired tear gas to control the agitators, BBC reports.
Obama, addressing the issue, said that Brown's death was heartbreaking. "I know the events of the past few days have prompted strong passions, but ... I urge everyone in Ferguson, Missouri, and across the country, to remember this young man through reflection and understanding," he further said.
The President assures that a full investigation into the case will be taken up by the U.S. Department of Justice. Police officials, who had earlier said that they would reveal the name of the shooter, have not yet announced the name citing "security concerns and death threats".
During a peaceful church vigil held late on Tuesday by friends and family of 18-year-old Michael Brown, his father urged protesters to end the violence that followed the tragic incident. However, activists continued to demand authorities release the name of the official who shot the teenager, Reuters reports.
Brown's father, Michael Brown Sr., said that he wanted justice in "the right way" for his son. "I need all of us to come together and do this right, the right way," he said. He was reportedly wearing a T-shirt with a picture of his son as a baby.
