U.S. President Barack Obama is calling for calm ahead of a grand jury decision connected to the fatal shooting of a black teenager earlier this year in Ferguson, Missouri.
The grand jury is being asked to decide whether to bring criminal charges against the white police officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown in August.
Obama is calling on people in the St. Louis suburb to remain peaceful.
"I think, first and foremost, keep protests peaceful. This is a country that allows everybody to express their views, but using any event as an excuse for violence, is contrary to rule of law and contrary to who we are."
Obama also says it's important to deal with the issue of race on the national level.
"What I've asked Eric Holder to do, is to not just engage with the folks in Ferguson but to engage nationally in a conversation between law enforcement and communities of color that oftentimes feel as if they are not being treated fairly by law enforcement official."
The shooting death of Michael Brown, who was reportedly unarmed at the time, triggered months of protests in Ferguson and a national debate over police violence.
Officer Darren Wilson claims he fired in self-defense.
The 12-member grand jury will resume meeting behind closed doors later on this Monday.
