President Barack Obama told national civil rights leaders he wanted to see protests in Ferguson, Mo., “staying on course” in the lead-up to the highly anticipated grand jury ruling on the fate of police officer Darren Wilson.

When Obama met with a group of civil rights activists including Rev. Al Sharpton at the White House on Nov. 5, the day after his party’s defeat in the midterm elections, he expressed his commitment to keeping the protests in Ferguson “on course.”

Sharpton said Obama “was concerned about Ferguson staying on course in terms of pursuing what it was that he knew we were advocating. He said he hopes that we’re doing all we can to keep peace,” according to the 21st paragraph of a New York Times article.

Missouri governor Jay Nixon announced a state of emergency Monday in Ferguson as the grand jury announcement nears.

[h/t The Gateway Pundit]

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