Slay and Dooley both had a warning however. "Violence will not be tolerated," Slay said. Dooley jumped in, adding, "They're gonna be arrested."

Isom declined to comment in detail to questions about the arrests and tactics used in protests in Ferguson over the last two nights.

"I'm convinced we're going to do what's right," said Dooley. "I do not expect the worst of people. . . I expect the best of people." Dooley stressed that the rules were not a formal agreement, just a conversation.

Members of the coalition did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Most organizers have said that they hope protests will be peaceful, and vow to self-police. They have blamed police for triggering violence.

They said that the anger over the shooting of Brown and others has laid bare longer-term problems of racial profiling, a lack of diversity and accountability in law enforcement, inequality and a lack of trust in police and the judicial system.

Protests are expected in front of the Ferguson police station and in Clayton, where some protesters have pledged to shut down the business district on the first weekday after the decision is announced. Protests are also expected on a stretch of West Florissant Avenue near the burned-out QuikTrip in Ferguson and in the Shaw Neigborhood, where VonDerrit Myers Jr. was killed by a St. Louis police officer last month.

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