American minister and civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton on Sunday called the shooting death of unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, a "defining moment" for the United States.

Speaking at a rally in the town of Ferguson, Sharpton said he wants Congress to stop programmes that provide military-style weaponry to police departments.

He also condemned the recent spate of violence and looting in Ferguson.

Protests have been ongoing since Brown's death heightened racial tensions between the predominantly black community and mostly white Ferguson Police Department, leading to several run-ins between police and protesters and prompting Missouri's governor to put the state highway patrol in charge of security.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered a federal medical examiner to perform another autopsy on Brown.

The "extraordinary circumstances" surrounding the death of the 18-year-old, and a request by Brown's family members prompted the order, Department of Justice spokesman Brian Fallon said in a statement.

The Justice Department had already deepened its civil rights investigation into the shooting.

Officials said 40 FBI agents were going door-to-door gathering information in the Ferguson, Missouri, neighbourhood where Brown, who was unarmed, was shot dead on August 9 in the street.

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of audience at rally in Ferguson

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ty Pruitt, Michael Brown's Cousin:

"This (holds up hands), was the last actions that our family member made before he went to rest. This (holds up hands), will be stuck in my family's memories for the rest of our lives. So when you protest, (holds up hands)."

3. Brown's parents on stage

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Crump, Family lawyer:

"So when we say what we're here for today, united for justice, for Michael Brown junior. What we're really asking for is simple justice. We're not asking for anything extraordinary, they just want what anybody else will want if their children was shot down in broad daylight. A fair and impartial investigation. They want to know that they will have their day in court, that the killer of their child will be held accountable to the full extent of the law."

5. Reverend Al Sharpton shaking hands with parents on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network:

"The debate is how the rights of people are dealt with by the state. Ferguson and Michael Brown Junior will be a defining moment on how this country deals with policing and the rights of its citizens to redress how police behave in this country."

7. Cutaway of Michael Brown's family

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network:

"While this mother and this father and their families haven't even had the time to bury their son, the police chief would release a tape trying to disparage his name while his mama's still weeping, while the family hasn't even laid him to rest. How can the young folk of the city believe in a system that would try to spit on the name and character of a young man who hasn't even been buried."

9. Cutaway of audience

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network: ++END OF SOUNDBITE OVERLAID WITH SHOT 11++

"We need to go to Congress after they come back from break, we going to call the day, we'll announce it (inaudible), we're going to have a arms up rally and march in DC (Washington DC) to demand federal legislation around policing how we get police and community to work together."

11. Audience giving standing ovation holding hands in air, cheering

12. Cutaway of Reverend Jesse Jackson in audience at rally

About 50 protesters have been arrested after blocking the entrance to a St. Louis federal courthouse while calling for more aggressive U.S. government response to what they call racist law enforcement practices.

The arrests of scholar and civil rights activist Cornel West and the few dozen others were part of what's been billed as a national day of civil disobedience.

They come a day after the one-year observance of the Ferguson police shooting death of Michael Brown, and police shooting there Sunday night that wounded another black 18-year-old, who police say fired on officers during nighttime protests.

Monday's arrests came after a roughly mile-long march from a St. Louis church to the Eagleton courthouse. That's where marchers demanded federal action to stop what policing they say targets minorities. The protesters then scaled a waist-high barricade, staging a sit-in before advancing past police to the entrances.

About 50 protesters have been arrested after blocking the entrance to a St. Louis federal courthouse while calling for more aggressive U.S. government response to what they call racist law enforcement practices.

The arrests of scholar and civil rights activist Cornel West and the few dozen others were part of what's been billed as a national day of civil disobedience.

They come a day after the one-year observance of the Ferguson police shooting death of Michael Brown, and police shooting there Sunday night that wounded another black 18-year-old, who police say fired on officers during nighttime protests.

Monday's arrests came after a roughly mile-long march from a St. Louis church to the Eagleton courthouse. That's where marchers demanded federal action to stop what policing they say targets minorities. The protesters then scaled a waist-high barricade, staging a sit-in before advancing past police to the entrances.

AP TELEVISION

Ferguson, Missouri - 10 August 2015

1. Various Christ Church Cathedral, where protesters gathered

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Reverend Starsky Wilson, co-chair of the Ferguson Commission and an organizer of march

"We are seeking to raise the issues of accountability, in the negotiations with the Ferguson police department, from the things that have already been identified in the Department of Justice report and call into question quite frankly, what should still be in place there in the Ferguson police department. We have well documented discrimination, we have well documented challenges there, we have only seen a surface change, we have not seen structural change. So this morning's action at the Department of Justice is calling attention to those things and calling for that office to bring more of its weight to bear particularly in the Ferguson Police Department, but also in the various police departments in our region and criminal justice across the country."

3. Various of demonstrators preparing to march, including activist and scholar Cornel West

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Reverend Starsky Wilson, co-chair of the Ferguson Commission and an organizer of march

"We have seen the move towards change, we recognize these are deeply ingrained systems in our community, in our nation, in our history, they are going to take years to shift, but we are going to continue to be impatient, we will continue to push, we will continue to resist, we will continue to be urgent about those things and call for those who sit in seats of power to take the same kind of urgency as well."

5. Beginning and various of march to federal courthouse

6. UPSOUND: (English) Reverend Starsky Wilson

"The time for talking is done. Now is the time for action."

7. Various of demonstrators climbing over police barricade

8. Various of police and demonstrators advancing on courthouse

9. Police reinforcements arrive

10. Various of police arresting demonstrators

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus036205

About 50 protesters have been arrested after blocking the entrance to a St. Louis federal courthouse while calling for more aggressive U.S. government response to what they call racist law enforcement practices.

The arrests of scholar and civil rights activist Cornel West and the few dozen others were part of what's been billed as a national day of civil disobedience.

They come a day after the one-year observance of the Ferguson police shooting death of Michael Brown, and police shooting there Sunday night that wounded another black 18-year-old, who police say fired on officers during nighttime protests.

Monday's arrests came after a roughly mile-long march from a St. Louis church to the Eagleton courthouse. That's where marchers demanded federal action to stop what policing they say targets minorities. The protesters then scaled a waist-high barricade, staging a sit-in before advancing past police to the entrances.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus036205

About 50 protesters have been arrested after blocking the entrance to a St. Louis federal courthouse while calling for more aggressive U.S. government response to what they call racist law enforcement practices.

The arrests of scholar and civil rights activist Cornel West and the few dozen others were part of what's been billed as a national day of civil disobedience.

They come a day after the one-year observance of the Ferguson police shooting death of Michael Brown, and police shooting there Sunday night that wounded another black 18-year-old, who police say fired on officers during nighttime protests.

Monday's arrests came after a roughly mile-long march from a St. Louis church to the Eagleton courthouse. That's where marchers demanded federal action to stop what policing they say targets minorities. The protesters then scaled a waist-high barricade, staging a sit-in before advancing past police to the entrances.

AP TELEVISION

Ferguson, Missouri - 10 August 2015

1. Beginning and various of march to federal courthouse, including activist and scholar Cornel West

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Reverend Starsky Wilson, co-chair of the Ferguson Commission and an organizer of march

"We are seeking to raise the issues of accountability, in the negotiations with the Ferguson police department, from the things that have already been identified in the Department of Justice report and call into question quite frankly, what should still be in place there in the Ferguson police department. We have well documented discrimination, we have well documented challenges there, we have only seen a surface change, we have not seen structural change. So this morning's action at the Department of Justice is calling attention to those things and calling for that office to bring more of its weight to bear particularly in the Ferguson Police Department, but also in the various police departments in our region and criminal justice across the country. We have seen the move towards change, we recognize these are deeply ingrained systems in our community, in our nation, in our history, they are going to take years to shift, but we are going to continue to be impatient, we will continue to push, we will continue to resist, we will continue to be urgent about those things and call for those who sit in seats of power to take the same kind of urgency as well."

3. Various of police and demonstrators advancing on courthouse

4. Various of police arresting demonstrators

Throngs of people who packed streets in a suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri, to protest the fatal shooting of a black teen were largely dispersing on Saturday night in advance of a curfew imposed to try to keep the peace after nights of violent clashes between police and protesters.

The midnight to 5 a.m. curfew was ordered on Saturday by Governor Jay Nixon as he declared a state of emergency in Ferguson, where 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed by a white police officer a week ago.

Officer Darren Wilson opened fire on 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9.

Despite heavy rainfall and lightning, hundreds of protesters gathered on Saturday night at a busy thoroughfare that has been the site of previous clashes with police.

Dozens of officers, a much more visible presence than the night before, stood watch - including some with shields.

Members of various black community groups were urging people to abide by the curfew.

Black Lawyers For Justice National President Malik Shabazz, said that the protest would go on "all night",

"We are going to make sure that the message that officer Darren Wilson must be indicted and brought to justice right away," Shabazz said.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson, in charge of security in Ferguson, was peppered with questions as he walked among the protesters on Saturday.

One man in particular was pressing Johnson to say which side did he represent, being a black police officer.

"The first thing I represent is a man. The second thing I represent is a black man. Far down the ladder of them, I'm a husband, I'm a father. But down on the ladder of my life, I am a policeman. But I'm a Christian before that," said Johnson.

The man disagreed and said: "But when you're out here with that uniform on, you're police."

AP TELEVISION

1. Protesters marching, calling for justice for Michael Brown, the black teen who was fatally shot by a white police officer

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Malik Shabazz, Black Lawyers For Justice, National President:

"We'll keep demonstrating all night, and we are going to make sure that the message that officer Darren Wilson must be indicted and brought to justice right away."

3. Various of march

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Malik Shabazz, Black Lawyers For Justice, National President:

"I'm making sure that the traffic flows through, so that the police stay out of here. We don't want them to come here and antagonise everybody, so I make sure that the police stay out and I take charge with my forces, and that make sure everything goes okay."

7. Marchers, UPSOUND (English) "Black power, black power! To the people!"

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox pop - Walter Rice, Ferguson resident:

"I don't like this. I don't see American flags. We are all Americans. There's no black America, there's no white America. This is what I take. This is my home."

9. Captain Ron Johnson of Missouri State Highway Patrol talking with marcher while walking

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Captain Ron Johnson, Missouri State Highway Patrol:

(Man off-camera: "But right now you're representing that department.")

Johnson: "You know what I'm representing? Let me tell you what I represent. The first thing I represent is a man. The second thing I represent is a black man. Far down the ladder of them, I'm a husband, I'm a father. But down on the ladder of my life, I am a policeman. But I'm a Christian before that."

(Man off-camera: "I understand, that's how you consider yourself. Brother, brother, brother. I understand you consider yourself that. But when you're out here with that uniform on, you're police.")

11. Police walking through crowd, UPSOUND (English): "Hands up, don't shoot!"

12. Police shield, tilt up to officer

13. Line of officers

14. Close of officers' hands

Lawyers for Michael Brown's family said on Tuesday that the process that led to a white officer not being indicted in the fatal shooting of the unarmed, black 18-year-old was unfair and broken.

At a news conference in Ferguson they objected to St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch's decision to call a grand jury and to not appoint a special prosecutor.

Lawyer Anthony Gray called for "a presentation of evidence that if fair and impartial."

Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton said they were not surprised by the outcome of the process, as they had "little faith in a state prosecution."

Sharpton criticised those who committed violence on Monday night, following the grant jury's announcement.

"Certainly there will be emotional reactions, I've never seen a case where there wasn't. You're dealing with their flesh and blood. But let the record be clear, you have broken our hearts, but you have not broken our backs," he said.

Michael Brown's father stood with the lawyers and Sharpton, but did not speak to reporters.

More than 1,000 pages of grand jury documents were released on Monday, including the testimony of officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Brown on 9 August.

The US Justice Department has its own investigation into possible civil rights violations that could result in federal charges for Wilson, but investigators would need to satisfy a rigorous standard of proof.

The department also has launched a broad probe into the Ferguson Police Department.

AP TELEVISION

Ferguson, Missouri - 25 November 2014

1. Michael Brown's father, Michael Brown Sr., and lawyers walking into news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Crump, Brown family lawyer:

"We went through as much evidence as we could and saw how completely unfair this process was. We object (as) publicly and loudly as we can on behalf of Michael Brown Junior's family, that this process is broken. The process should be indicted. It should be indicted because of the continuous systematic results that is yielded by this process."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Anthony Gray, Brown family lawyer:

"It's things like that, that just raises all kinds of red flags for us in this process. But we are going to hold out hope that at some point justice will be served and we will at least have a presentation of evidence that is fair and impartial and then we will allow the chips to fall where they may."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, civil rights activist:

"Last night, the appearance by the District Attorney made it clear to everyone why we had little faith in a state prosecution. I've been out involved in civil rights all my life. We have seen cases go ways that we felt were right and ways that we felt was wrong. I've never seen a prosecutor hold a press conference to discredit the victim."

5. Cutaway of news conference

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, civil rights activist:

"We were not surprised at what the outcome was. Certainly it is painful for the mother and the father. Certainly there will be emotional reactions, I've never seen a case where there wasn't. You're dealing with their flesh and blood. But let the record be clear, you have broken our hearts, but you have not broken our backs."

7. Close-up of Sharpton asking Michael Brown Senior if he wishes to talk, Brown declining

8. Wide, pan to protesters in back of church interrupt end of news conference and are escorted out of the building

Reverend Al Sharpton called for the shooting of Michael Brown to be put before a federal grand jury during a church service in Ferguson dedicated to the memory of Brown.

Sharpton, a Baptist minister and civil rights activist, said that the resignation of Officer Darren Wilson on Saturday evening did not equate to justice for Brown, an unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed by Wilson in August.

Wilson did not receive a severance package when he resigned over the weekend, the St. Louis suburb's Mayor said on Sunday.

Wilson, 28, won't receive any further pay or benefits, and he and the city have severed their ties, Mayor James Knowles told reporters a day after Wilson tendered his resignation, which was effective immediately.

Wilson, who is white, had been on administrative leave since he killed Brown, during a confrontation on the streets of Ferguson.

A grand jury decided on Monday not to indict him, sparking days of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and other cities.

AP TELEVISION

St. Louis, Missouri - 30 November 2014

1. Pull out of Sunday church service honouring shooting victim Michael Brown

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network:

"Reporters started calling me saying that the officer had resigned from his job and said that he hopes it will lead to healing the city. But you can't heal (by) leaving the injured out of the process. The afflicted is the family that remains with open wounds and just quitting your job, or taking his job, was not the objective. It was not about Darren Wilson's job, it was about Michael Brown's justice."

3. Wide of church service

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network:

"This was not about anything but justice because we saw Michael, their son, as if it could've been ours. We are not giving up, we said from the first rally, we had the first rally Tuesday night, 72 hours after it (shooting of Michael Brown) happened. We said at the first rally we didn't trust the local grand jury, that's why we wanted a federal grand jury, that's why we still are going to fight, we aren't going to stop marching and protesting until we do."

5. Wide of church service

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network:

"We lost a round, but the fight ain't over. And you don't judge the fight on one round. Even if we get knocked down, we get up and go to the corner and come out fighting the next round. You won the first round Mr. Prosecutor, but don't cut your gloves off, because the fight's not over. Justice will come to Ferguson."

7. Wide of church service

Protesters returned to the streets of Ferguson on Wednesday evening as tensions remained high after more than a week of unrest fuelled by the fatal shooting of black 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Police continued to stand guard in the St.Louis suburb, but the number of protesters was smaller than previous nights and many officers wore regular uniforms rather than riot gear.

Members of the crowd escorted one woman out of the area who was holding a sign that some interpreted as being supportive of the police.

Earlier on Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder sought to reassure the people of Ferguson about the investigation into Brown's death on 9 August.

Holder met with federal officials in Ferguson investigating the shooting.

He also met with Brown's parents.

"Our investigation is different from that which the state is doing. We are looking for violations of federal criminal civil rights statutes," said Holder.

In nearby Clayton, a grand jury began hearing evidence to determine whether the officer, Darren Wilson, should be charged in Brown's death.

A spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said there was no timeline for the process, but it could take weeks.

Clinton Stancil, a St. Louis church pastor, said black men had been marginalised and "dehumanised in every city in America," adding that the "Mike Brown situation has brought this whole thing to a head".

AP TELEVISION

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Police officers making an arrest

2. Pan of protesters

3. Police officer on street, UPSOUND (English) "Keep moving."

4. Protesters escorting woman - who was holding a sign that some interpreted as supporting the police.- out of the area

5. Protesters surrounding police vehicle

6. Woman holding sign reading (English) "Peaceful protesters=Guns down"

7. Protesters chanting (English) "I am...Mike Brown"

8. Various of protesters chanting (English)"No justice, no peace"

POOL

++INTERIOR SHOTS++

9. Eric Holder, US Attorney General (centre) in conference room

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Holder, US Attorney General:

"Now our investigation is different from that which the state is doing. We are looking for violations of federal criminal civil rights statutes, which is different from what the local investigation is. But we have brought a substantial number of people here, a number of agents here who have done a great job in the canvassing that they did over the past weekend. They continue to follow leads so that we can do a thorough and a fair job about making a determination about what happened on August the 9th."

11. Wide of Holder and officials in conference room

AP TELEVISION

++DAY SHOTS++

12. Protesters marching, two women holding sign reading (English) "I am faith in action"

13. Protesters marching and holding placards

14. Protester with loudspeaker

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Clinton Stancil, St. Louis church pastor:

"This is just not about Ferguson. This has been going on in every city in America. Black young men have been marginalised, they have been dehumanised in every city in America, and so this is just, I think the Ferguson situation and Mike Brown situation has brought this whole thing to a head."

16. Protesters marching and sign reading (English) "End police brutality"

17. Protesters