Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) urged for calm hours before a grand jury is expected to release its decision whether to indict Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown.
“It’s understandable that like the rest of us they are on edge waiting for a decision,” Nixon said at a press conference Monday evening. But residents “must show tolerance, mutual respect and restraint.”
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said that authorities would “protect your right to peacefully assemble and speak your mind.” But he emphasized that violence “will not be tolerated.”
As for the evening timing of the announcement, which some have questioned, Nixon said that the decision was “made by the St. Louis county prosecutor’s office… That is who made that call.”
