Michael Brown's family calls for peaceful protests after Ferguson grand jury decision

By RYAN GORMAN

Michael Brown's family has repeated calls for peace in the wake of a grand jury's decision to not indict the police officer responsible for his death.

The teen's devastated parents released a statement shortly after St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch announced Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be charged.

"Let's not make noise, let's make a difference," said the family.

The pleas largely fell on deaf ears as hundreds took to the streets rocking police cars, smashing windows, throwing bottles, looting and even firing guns, according to multiple reports.

"We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions," said the family.

"While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change"

Masked protestors instead began running amok, even pouring lighter fluid on a police car with smashed in windows, footage from CNN showed.

"We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen," said the Brown family.

Protestors instead began fighting with police as President Barack Obama took to the nation's airwaves to make a statement on the grand jury decision.

"We are a nation built on the rule of law," said Obama. "We need to accept that this decision was the grand jury's to make. There are Americans who agree with it, and there are Americans who are disappointed, even angry. That's an understandable reaction.

"I join Michael's parents in asking that anyone who protest this decision, do so peacefully."

The president repeated Michael Brown Sr.'s words from Friday in which he pleaded for peaceful protests so his son's death "would not be in vain."

"Michael Brown's parents have lost more than anyone, we should be honoring their wishes," Obama said, adding that he hoped law enforcement would use discretion in distinguishing between peaceful and violent protestors.

"There's never an excuse for violence," the president insisted, as cable news network showed a split screen of the rioting masses in Ferguson.