Ferguson marks anniversary of Michael Brown's death [Photos] [Video]

1	FERGUSON, Mo.
2	-- One year after the shooting that cast greater scrutiny on how police interact with black communities, the father of slain 18-year-old Michael Brown led a march in Ferguson, Missouri, on Sunday after a crowd of hundreds observed 4 1/2 minutes of silence.
3	Those who gathered to commemorate Brown began their silence at 12:02 p.m., the time he was killed, for a length of time that symbolized the 4 1/2 hours that his body lay in the street after he was killed.
4	Two doves were released at the end.
5	Police largely remained away from the ceremony.
6	Michael Brown Sr. held hands with others to lead the march, which started at the site where his son, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot by Ferguson officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014.
7	A grand jury and the U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute Wilson, who resigned in November, but the shooting touched off a national "Black Lives Matter" movement.
8	Pausing along the route at a permanent memorial for his son, Michael Brown Sr. said, "Miss you."
9	He had thanked supporters before the march for not allowing what happened to his son to be "swept under the carpet."
10	Later Sunday, a few hundred people turned out at Greater St. Mark Family Church for a service to remember Brown, with his father joining other relatives sitting behind the pulpit.
11	Anthony Gray, a Brown family attorney pressing a wrongful-death lawsuit against Ferguson, Wilson and his former police chief, suggested that justice will be served on Michael Brown's behalf.
12	Grey told the crowd: "You knew in your gut that (the shooting) wasn't right. And you knew what that officer did was unjustified."
13	The two-hour commemoration, featuring a mime dance and a rap-infused version of "Lean on Me" peppered between reflections about Brown, thinned as it wore on.
14	Roughly 50 still remained by the time Michael Brown Sr. was finally handed the microphone to thank attendees and close out the event, saying, "This movement is going to be a good movement."
15	The anniversary has sparked renewed protests, though ones much smaller than those a year ago.
16	A few hundred people gathered outside Ferguson police headquarters Saturday night, but despite some tense moments in which the crowd taunted police, no arrests were made.
17	On Sunday night, several hundred people had gathered along West Florissant Avenue, which saw protests, riots and looting last year.
18	At times, the protesters blocked traffic.
19	One person threw a glass bottle at officers but missed.
20	Others cursed at officers.
21	For the first time in three nights of protests, some officers were dressed in riot gear, including bullet-proof vests and helmets with shields.
22	Organizers of some of the weekend activities have pledged a day of civil disobedience on Monday, but have not yet offered specific details.
23	Earlier, at the march, some wore T-shirts with likenesses of Brown or messages such as "Please stop killing us" or "Hands up! Don't shoot!" which became a rallying cry during the sometimes-violent protests that followed the shooting a year ago.
24	But the focus of the weekend has largely been on Brown, who graduated from high school weeks before the shooting and planned to go to trade school to study to become a heating and air conditioning technician.
25	Relatives and friends described Brown as a quiet, gentle giant who stood around 6-foot-3, weighed nearly 300 pounds and was eager to start technical college.
26	But police said Brown stole items from a convenience store and shoved the owner who tried to stop him on the morning of Aug. 9, 2014.
27	Moments later, he and a friend were walking on Canfield Drive when Wilson, who is white, told them to move to the sidewalk.
28	That led to a confrontation inside Wilson's police car.
29	It spilled outside, and Wilson claimed that Brown came at him, menacingly, leading to the fatal shooting.
30	Some witnesses claimed Brown had his hands up in surrender.
31	Federal officials concluded there was no evidence to disprove testimony by Wilson that he feared for his safety, nor was there reliable evidence that Brown had his hands up in surrender when he was shot.
32	The shooting led to protests, some violent, and the unrest escalated again in November when a St. Louis County grand jury determined that Wilson did nothing wrong.
33	He resigned days later.
34	The November riots included fires that burned more than a dozen businesses.
35	The Justice Department reached the same conclusion in March, clearing Wilson.
36	But in a separate report, the Justice Department cited racial bias and profiling in policing as well as a profit-driven municipal court system that often targeted black residents, who make up about two-thirds of Ferguson's populace.
37	Ferguson's city manager, police chief and municipal judge resigned within days of that report.
38	All three were white.
39	The new judge, interim city manager and interim police chief are all black.
40	Michael Brown Sr. speaks through a megaphone as he takes part in a parade in honor of his son, Michael Brown, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo.
41	Sunday will mark one year since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
42	Michael Brown Sr.(C), father of slain 18 year-old Michael Brown Jr. looks at placed stuffed animals along with Brown family members prior to a march of solidarity on August 8, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri.
43	As the embattled community celebrates the one year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown Jr. by a Ferguson police officer, there are a wide range of social events and civil disobedience actions throughout the St. Louis, Missouri area.
44	Demonstrators protest during a march of solidarity on West Florissant Avenue on August 8, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri.
45	Newly appointed Ferguson Police Chief Andre Anderson(L) shakes hands with participants during a march of solidarity on West Florissant Avenue, August 8, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri.
46	Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol watches during a march of solidarity on West Florissant Avenue August 8, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri.
47	Michael Brown Sr. drops off stuffed animals at a memorial to his son, Michael Brown, before taking part in a parade in his son's honor Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
48	Michael Brown Sr. is surrounded by family, friends and media as he passes a memorial in the sidewalk commemorating the life of his son during a parade in honor of his son, Michael Brown, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
49	Michael Brown Sr. along with family and friends stop to pray at a memorial to Brown's son before taking part in a parade in his son's honor Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
50	Michael Brown Sr., center, takes part in a parade in honor of his son, Michael Brown, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo.
51	A memorial in memory of Michael Brown is seen in a sidewalk near where Brown was shot and killed is shown Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
52	Sunday will mark one year since Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
53	Michael Brown Sr., center, locks arms with others as he takes part in a parade in honor of his son, Michael Brown, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
54	Michael Brown Sr. along with family and friends stop to pray at a memorial to Brown's son before taking part in a parade in his son's honor of Michael Brown Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
55	Michael Brown Sr., center, takes part in a parade in honor of his son, Michael Brown, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
56	Missouri Highway Patrol Capt.
57	Ron Johnson, left, gets a hug from a person participating in a parade in honor of Michael Brown Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
58	People march down West Florissant Avenue during a parade in honor of Michael Brown Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo.
59	People hold signs during a memorial service for slain 18 year-old Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, 2015 at the Canfield Apartments in Ferguson, Missouri.
60	Several hundred demonstrators stood in silence Sunday at the spot where an unarmed black teen was shot and killed by a white police officer one year ago, throwing America's troubled race relations into harsh relief.
61	Two white doves were released over the crowd that gathered to mark the anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown's death in a fateful encounter August 9, 2014 with white police officer Darren Wilson.
62	The crowd, about 300 strong, observed four and a half minutes of silence, one minute for each of the four and a half hours that Brown's body lay face down in the street before being taken away.
63	A woman wears a shirt with 'Black Lives Matter' during a memorial service for slain 18 year-old Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, 2015 at the Canfield Apartments in Ferguson, Missouri.
64	A street sign at the intersection of Canfield and Caddiefield Dr. is seen during a memorial service for slain 18 year-old Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, 2015 at the Canfield Apartments in Ferguson, Missouri.
65	Community Activist Anthony Shahid(L) speaks during a memorial service for slain 18 year-old Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, 2015 at the Canfield Apartments in Ferguson, Missouri.
66	A woman holds a 'Black Lives Matter' sign during a memorial service for slain 18 year-old Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, 2015 at the Canfield Apartments in Ferguson, Missouri.
67	Michael Brown Sr., (C) at the spot where his son was killed, hugs his wife Cal Brown during the 4-1/2 minutes of silence to mark the one-year anniversary of the killing of his son Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015.
68	Several hundred people gathered in Ferguson, Missouri, on Sunday to mark the one-year anniversary of the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer that sparked protests and a national debate on race and justice.
69	Michael Brown Sr. (C), at the spot where his son was killed, listens with other family members at an event to mark the one-year anniversary of the killing of his son Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015.
70	Michael Brown Sr. (C), at the spot where his son was killed, listens at an event to mark the one-year anniversary of the killing of his son Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015.
71	The crowd listens at an event to mark the one-year anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015.
72	People protest on West Florissant Ave., Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo., on the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown being shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.
73	Two white women lead two black women in prayer at the site of last year's riots on the one year anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015.
74	Hundreds of people marched, prayed and observed a moment of silence in Ferguson, Missouri, on Sunday, a year to the day after a white police officer shot the unarmed black teenager to death, igniting months of protests and a national debate on race and justice.
75	Gina Gowey, of Ferguson, Mo., protests on West Florissant Ave., Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, on the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown being shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.
76	Protesters yell at police in the rain, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo.
77	Sunday marks one year since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
78	Protesters march in the rain, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo.
79	Demonstrators participate in a protest march on August 9, 2015 on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, marking the one year anniversary of an unarmed black teen, Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by a white police officer, throwing America's troubled race relations into harsh relief.
80	A woman taunts police standing outside the looted Bowen Beauty Supply at the site of last year's riots on the one year anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015.
81	A Ferguson police unit is parked at outside the looted Bowen Beauty Supply at the site of last year's riots on the one year anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015.