St. Louis Mayor: Violence 'Will Not Be Tolerated'

About two hours ahead of the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown shooting, the governor of Missouri and the mayor of St. Louis issued an appeal for calm. Neither revealed whether officer Darren Wilson will be indicted on criminal charges or exonerated, but Mayor Francis Slay predicted that "whatever is announced this evening, some people are going to be angry and frustrated," reports CNN. He emphasized, however, that violence is off limits. "The world will be watching us," he said.

“My message to the protesters: We will protect your right to peacefully assemble and to speak your mind. But turning violent and damaging property will not be tolerated." Gov. Jay Nixon, meanwhile, urged "tolerance, mutual respect, and restraint," whatever the decision, reports the Washington Post. St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch will announce the grand jury's results at 9pm ET. (After he does so, Brown's family has called for 4½ minutes of silence.)