Michael Brown's family pleads for 'day of silence' for funeral

FERGUSON, Mo., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The parents of slain teenager Michael Brown asked for protesters in Ferguson, Mo., to take a day off Monday as they lay their son to rest.

Michael Brown Sr., speaking at an anti-violence rally called PeaceFest Sunday, urged protesters to take a "day of silence" Monday.

"All I want is peace while my son is being laid to rest," he said. "Can you please, please take a day of silence so we can lay our son to rest?"

The funeral for the 18-year-old will take place Monday, more than two weeks after he was shot and killed, setting off days of violent clashes between angered protesters and heavily armed police.

The parents of Trayvon Martin, another African-American teen whose death two years ago touched a nerve in the black community, attended Sunday's event in solidarity.

"Michael Brown had a right to live. He had a right to see another birthday," said Sybrina Fulton, Martin's mother. "He had a right just like anyone else to walk down the street.

And his father, Tracy Martin, called on black parents to keep their children in school.

"We don't want to give them no reason to assassinate our children," he said.

On Sunday, the White House said it would send three officials to attend Brown's funeral. Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to speak.