DETROIT — Members of the National Action Network (NAN) returned to Detroit Monday after visiting Ferguson, Missouri over the weekend. 

Speaking at a press conference this week following the visit, Rev. Charles Williams II of the NAN said residents in Ferguson are protesting peacefully and accused anarchist groups of inciting violence with police recently. The protests were sparked following the fatal shooting of a young Black man named Michael Brown, who was shot by a White police officer. 

“There is a fringe group rioting and inciting these riots with the police, and in most cases and I’ll say this they are not even Black…and they incite the police,” Williams said. 

Williams also criticized Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper’s office over the death of Eric Garner, who died nearly six months ago when officers at the Northland Mall put him in a chokehold, after he repeatedly begged to be let go because he couldn’t breathe. 

 “It makes no sense that it has almost been six months and we have not heard anything from Jessica cooper, the Oakland county prosecuting attorney,” Williams added. 

The prosecutor’s office said it is still handling the case, which is under review, and that it is continuing to consult with use of force specialists and trying to enhance the audio and video of shoppers recorded of the incident.