Ferguson, Missouri residents are anxiously awaiting a grand jury’s decision on the indictment of Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed a black teenager, Michael Brown, earlier this summer.
One group representing protesters has asked for 48-hours notice before before the jury’s decision is announced in order to prepare for more violent outbreaks, CNN reported Friday.
Local schools and businesses have been preparing for more unrest after the decision.
Two school districts issued letters to parents, informing them of preparations and new safety procedures.
“In light of the impending grand jury decision, Pattonville will continue to be a source of stability and support for our students. School will continue as normal,” a letter from Pattonville School District officials reads, a local CBS affiliate reported Friday.
Parents and school officials have also called for early warning of the jury’s decision, but officials said they would not give advanced notice of the decision.
SEE ALSO: Ferguson girds for grand jury decision as fate of Darren Wilson nears
“You want advance notice so you can make decisions on if the children are going to go to school and if there needs to be any precautions taken,” said Dontrell Thomas, a parent in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
Many are expecting the decision to be announced sometime this week, but authorities have said that those rumors are simply not true, and that the jury is still hearing evidence in the case.
The Don’t Shoot Coalition released 19 “Rules of Engagement” this week, highlighting issues between protestors and police and laying out guidelines for police to avoid militaristic confrontation.
The rules ask the police not to use rubber bullets, armored vehicles, rifles or tear gas and instruct police not to impede the flow of information by wire tapping or unwarranted interference with with internet and cellular access.
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles said he expects unrest in areas surrounding the St. Louis suburb as well.
“It’s not going to be about Ferguson,” Mr. Knowles said, according to CNN. “The threats that are out there are threats across the region. Our expectation is that demonstrations will probably break out in several places.”
Police forces are working together with the Department of Justice, ramping up training and working with community leaders in preparation for more violent outbreaks and to curb unintentional unrest caused by police bias.
“We face a lot of resistance. We face defensiveness and even hostility,” said trainer Lorie Fridell, a University of South Florida criminology professor who helped lead a session on “fair and impartial policing.”
After Mr. Brown was killed, President Obama ordered the Justice Department to work with local law enforcement to ease tensions in the area and to help in the investigation of the shooting.
The White House emphasized its commitment to defusing continued tensions over the Ferguson shooting, releasing a statement Friday noting that President Obama had been briefed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon as well as Justice Department officials who stepped in after Brown’s shooting.
• Wire services contributed to the writing of this report.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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