Rev. Al Sharpton urges peaceful protests, says police must identify cop who shot Missouri teen

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during a news conference outside the Old Courthouse Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, in St. Louis. Racial tensions have run high in Ferguson, Mo., where crowds have looted and burned stores, vandalized vehicles and taunted police after following the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, an unarmed black man by police. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during a news conference outside the Old Courthouse Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, in St. Louis. Michael Brown Jr., 18, who was unarmed, was shot to death Saturday by a Ferguson police officer while walking with a friend down the center of the street. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

ST. LOUIS – Civil rights activist the Rev. Al Shaprton is calling on police to release the name of the officer who fatally shot an unarmed Missouri teenager while also pleading that protests remain peaceful.

Sharpton appeared Tuesday at a St. Louis news conference with the family of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was killed Saturday while walking on a street near his home in Ferguson. Witnesses have said the officer was white and Brown was black.

The shooting has led to looting, and clashes between police and protesters. The Ferguson police chief backed off plans earlier Tuesday to identify the officer because of death threats.

Sharpton described Brown as a "gentle giant." He says that to become violent because of his death is to betray his name.