The Rev. Traci Blackmon, who described the call as “benign,” said she was confident those out on the streets would be on their best behavior tonight.

“I don't believe this going to be some kind of violent showdown,” she said.

Blackmon said she still believed Wilson should be indicted.

“What happens tonight says something about how this state values black life.”

Along West Florissant Avenue — well east of the Ferguson downtown and scene of most of the August protests — attendants boarded up service stations. Few had gathered at West Florissant and Canfield Drive.

Traffic flowed normally along West Florissant. As of 3:30 p.m., no crowd had formed at the memorial on Canfield Drive, where Michael Brown was shot fatally on Aug. 9.

Inside Ferguson Market & Liquor, 9101 West Florissant, business continued but owners said they will close at the first sign of trouble. The store is where a video monitor recorded Brown allegedly stealing cigars and shoving an attendant shortly before he was killed.

The store was looted one night after the security video was released.