Michael Brown Family Asks for 4.5 Minutes of Silence

With the grand jury decision expected to be announced later today in the death of Michael Brown, the teen's family has requested a moment of silence once it is made public. The family called for 4½ minutes of silence, which CNN explains is a reference to the approximately 4½ hours that Brown's body lay in the street after he was shot. “We are not here to be violent," says the family statement, as quoted at Fox 2 Illinois. "We are here in memory of our son. We are here for protection of all children. We are here to support justice and equality for all people. We lift our voices to ensure black and brown men, women and children can live in this country without being devalued because of the color of our skin."

If officer Darren Wilson is exonerated, the city of Ferguson is bracing for protests, and there's no indication the family knows the decision in advance. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon plans a news conference for 6:30pm ET, though the St. Louis County prosecutor's announcement of the grand jury decision won't come until 9 ET. (More Michael Brown stories.)