StL Protests 10-13 feat 2

Michael Brown’s mother is asking protestors to “pause, plan and prepare” in their response to a grand jury verdict.

The parents of Michael Brown have testified before a United Nations Committee Against Torture, in Geneva, Switzerland.  Lesley McSpadden, Michael Brown, Sr. and several activists told the committee that the fatal shooting of their teenage son by a Ferguson police officer, and the tactics used by police against protesters after the shooting, violate the UN’s policies against torture.  

CNN talked with McSpadden and Brown after the hearing about why they addressed a global audience.

She said, “We need the world to know what’s going on in Ferguson and we need justice.”

KSDK TV in St. Louis reports the trip was organized by the U.S. Human Rights Network based in New York and Atlanta.  This was the first time the couple has travelled outside of the United States.

A grand jury decision about whether to indict officer Darren Wilson in the shooting will be announced soon.  CNN asked Michael Brown Sr. if he would take the streets to protest if there is no indictment. 

“Yea… Cause the fight would not be over” Brown responded.

Governor Nixon outlined plans for the Ferguson area in a press conference Tuesday ahead of the  Grand Jury verdict.  While not revealing actual plans for dealing with violence, Nixon said violence will not be tolerated and property will be protected.

McSpadden told CNN she wants peaceful protesting and no one “acting before thinking, because it wouldn’t be serving us any purpose, it wouldn’t do us any good.  We’re trying to get a message across and that’s part of the reason why we’re in the UN as well.”