>> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm michael eaves in new york. funeral services for michael brown are being held today in st. louis. reverend al sharp ton is delivering his eulogy, as we speak. >> i understand that nobody is going to help us if we don't help ourselves. sitting around, feeling sorry

for ourselves won't solve the problems. sitting around with ghetto pity parties, rather than organizing and strategizing and putting our differences aside. yes, we got young and old. yes, we got things we don't like about each other but bigger than our egos, bigger than who shot john. we need everybody because i going to tell you i don't care how much money you got, i don't care what position you hold. i don't care how much education you got. if we can't protect a child, walking down the street in ferguson, and protect him and bring justice, all you got, don't matter to nobody but you.

we are required to leave here today and change things. michael brown must be remembered for more than disturbances. he must be remembered for this is when they started changing what was going on. oh yeah, there have been other times in history that became seminal moments. and this is one of those moments. that this young man for some reason has appealed to all of us that we've got to solve this and not continue this. this man, this woman, their spouses their families are going to go through some real trials and tribulations.

they're going to call them all kind of names. but their target is all of us. if we cannot focus and do what the lord requires of us, we'll be right back here again. >> reverend al sharpton delivering one of two eulogies, at the funeral of michael brown, who was gunned down by a white police officer in ferguson, missouri two weeks ago. the father of mike brown junior, mike brown senior, request that no protest be made today when they lay their son to rest. speaking of ferguson that's where we have our robert ray standing by. and robert, thousands of people at the church in st. louis about seven miles from where you are i would assume a different scene there in ferption.

ferguson. >> reporter: michael very different scene. very quiet, peaceful. a memorial in the street, that is where michael brown was shot dead and laid for hours just after his death. a few hours ago, you could see a steady stream of people coming up and giving their love towards michael brown, the young man 18 years old, whose life is being celebrated in the church just seven miles away. as you said, from the streets of ferguson, couple of blocks away, hundreds of demonstrators have clashed with police but today all is quiet. michael brown's father made a request for that yesterday at the peace festival in st. louis and it seems that people are honoring his request. a little earlier this morning at the memorial service reverend charles ewing who is actually

the uncle of michael brown made a statement about gun violence in america. let's listen to what he had to say. >> there is a cry being made from the ground. not just for michael brown but for the trayvon martins, for the children at sandy hook elementary school, for the columbine massacre, for the black on black crime, there is a cry being made from the ground! >> passionate passionate words from his uncle. you can hear the fact that he is grieving in his own way by preaching to the hundreds of people in the st. louis church, and behind me, you see the grieving as well with a woman who just dropped flowers. clearly she's very upset at the death of 18-year-old michael brown who was shot right there, a little over two weeks ago ago.michael.

>> robert ray in ferguson, missouri, we'll have more from robert throughout the day here on al jazeera america. joining us now is jonathan clark a former award winning television reporter and writer, does analysis for the website politics in color. thank you for staying with us this afternoon as we watch the scenes unfold from michael brown's funeral in st. louis. we just heard a passionate plea from his uncle against gun violence, not just in ferguson but throughout area, i wonder your response so far from people outside the area including reverend al sharpton come to st. louis to make a pitch about a larger idea here than just this one particular young man. >> so michael what you see here is the dichotomy. clearly on one side this really shouldn't be about the militarization of police, the

makeup of the police department or any of the broader issues, this really ought to be about michael brown's life. this is a life of an 18-year-old, an 18-year-old who should have been in college this week, an 18-year-old who should have had his entire life with him who now isn't with us anymore. that is what really this should be about. but clearly it is not only about that right now, it is about all the things that al sharpton has mentioned about in his eulogy so far. it's about jobs, it's about education, it's about the demilitarization of the police, and michael brown's life in an of itself becomes a cause. he becomes a movement, he becomes a spark that moves this community and really the larger american community forward. >> you know through the years reverend al sharpton has become a polarizing influence at times. he has been accused of

race-baiting. not only did he challenge the police and the government in terms of being able to educate young men as opposed to just giving police military equipment. he also challenged the local community specifically the african american community in the way they respond to this to help ensure that shootings and murders in their words in this situation do not continue. what did that say about the state of the african american community as it relates to incidents such as these? >> what i appreciate about his remarks and in fact i was preparing a piece to place on my own blog, tomorrow i believe, is that he doesn't give the african american community a pass here. he basically -- effectively he says, we need to be as outraged when these things happen in our community, and they aren't committed by police. he explains that we ought to be as outraged and i believe he's pointed out a nine-year-old girl

or nine-year-old boy, when they are killed we should be as upset as we are today about michael brown dying at the hands of police officers. he doesn't give black community any pass there and he also asks us to be vigilant at the same time. and to use michael's lives as a spring board for future actions. >> journalist jonathan clark and analyst for politics in color, joining us from wildwood new jersey. thank you for joining us today. in other news today, an american jowrp journalist has bn released in the golan heights. peurkts. what dpeter theo curtis.how did? >> fellow hostage and journalist

uraniujames foley. his family are reactin reactingh relief and gratitude. >> today's date is june 30th, 2003. >> in this video peter theo curtis appears calm but also appears to be reading from a script. having i have has been perfect, people food clothing. thank you very much. >> a different look at curtis, while an armed guard stands over him. >> my life is in very, very grave danger. they are giving me three days to live, if you don't do anything i'm finished they will kill me. >> secretary of state john kerry

confirmed, curtis was free. his family is crediting the qatari government with winning their son's release. it was reported that no ransom was paid to set him free. curtis, who changed his name after publishing the book, "under cover muslim." >> one family celebrates the releasing of their son. another mourns the son they lost. >> siblings, his family. ought of those remembered here, we remember james foley. >> james foley the journalist beheaded by the islamic state group was remembered in a memorial in his home town of rochester, new hampshire. tha letter written by foley was committed to memory and shared

with his family. meanwhile britain says it's close to identifying the man who executed foley, who is believed to be one of their own. >> there is some very 76thed voice identification technology and other measures we have got which should allow us to be very clear about who this person is before very long. >> and michael, central to this is an issue that has become very controversial, to pay ransom or not pay it. the state department reiterating yesterday, their policy is they have not done it and will do noo it in the future. there are countries that do it within europe. the u.s. government and the qatari government say that no ransom was paid. michael. >> a growing trend around the world in terms of people who have been kidnapped. mike viqueria reporting live in

washington. meantime, in iraq, the war is gaining momentum. john terret joins me with more on that. john. >> yes, they seem to be edging closer now to getting a government of national unity in iraq which might go some way to beginning the process of sorting out this i.s. problem. we shall see. good afternoon. the iraqi ministry of defense has released footage of what they call air strikes carried out by iraqi and u.s. military planes against islamic state fighters in the northern city of mowms. anof -- mosul. footage of takeoffs and landing from the aircraft carrier george h.w. bush. over the weekend, 42 people were killed in car bombings, another nine died on nonat a shiite

mosque in the capitol, baghdad and scores were also injured today as well. iraq's new prime minister designate is predicting a unity government by the end of the week and he says then groups like i.s. will not be tolerated. >> translator: weapons should be in the hands of the state. there will be no place for armed groups be they militias tribes or civilian volunteers. we will never allow any armed group to operate outside of the state. anyone who uses weapons should do so within the framework of the state and under the control of the security groups. >> reporter: and iraq's outgoing prime minister, nouri al-maliki, many promises to rid the country of the filthiness of this gang. >> thank you john. >> thank you mike. the biggest earthquake to hit the bay area in the last 25

years, picking up the pieces during a state of emergency in northern california.

>> you're looking live at michael brown's funeral services in st. louis. michael was shot by a police officer two weeks ago. dignitaries in attendance including bishop t.d. jakes, who is speaking right now. >> free at last. and the lord said to moses if you lift up your hands, you'll have victory. buwould you lift up your hands s high as you see our people going. lift up your hands knowing the race isn't given to the swift nor to the strong but to those who endure to the end. >> we also expect to hear from several elected officials, both in the state and local area

there. in st. louis and ferguson but also u.s. congressman william lazy clay. reverend al sharpton gave the eulogy just moments ago. tine johnnne joiner. michael brown sr. had asked yesterday that today be a die of silence and to honor their son michael by not holding any protests in ferguson or anywhere in the st. louis area and from what we have learned from most of the people we've spoken to in the area everyone is going to heed that request. an not have any protest today. there you see the parents of michael brown, jr, as the words of condolences and praise continue there in st. louis. more than 2500 people are in

attendance today, in st. louis. we'll have more coverage from this as we continue here today. on al jazeera america. two people are dead this morning after an explosion at a recycling plant in illinois. one person was also injured in the accident. the explosion occurred in dpran it city, just east -- in granite city, just east of st. louis. the area is closed off for fear of explosion, because the company works in the ammunition industry. an earthquake in california is largest in 25 years. 175 people have reported injuries and many of the area's historic buildings have been badly damaged. melissa chan is covering from napa. she joins us with more. obviously melissa napa has a huge cleanup job ahead of it. where do things stand right now? >> let me explain how things

were rite after the quake. 75,000 households at one point did not have power. there were water mains with issues, gas elaboration that were reported, dozens of gas leaks that were reported and take a look at what the city spokesperson told us this morning. >> i believe that all the electric power has been restored. i'm not aware of any existing power outages right now. last night at 8:00 there were about 7,000 that were without service and i think they're restored now. all of the gas mains have been inspected by pg&e, there are no leaks right now. water mains have been repaired as far as utilities now. >> you have to keep in mind this has all happened within 24 hours, little bit more, that he managed to bring power up for just about everyone. that's truly incredible. >> when you think of napa you think of napa valley, home of

some of the best wines in the world, for the restaurant industry which is also huge in that area. any idea just how severe those damages will be to the local economy? >> well, just take a look at the building right behind me. so you can see that there have been damages. as terms -- in terms of vineyards there are some 800 of them in this area so at this point it is just too early to get a sense of just how bad the damage is. we have certainly seen dramatic pictures of broken wine bottles and barrels. when there wasn't power there was concern from the vineyards because they are starting to bottle and they need machines to keep their wines chilled. it's good the power is back on and the vineyards have power. there's going to be asense of how badly this has impacted the industry. >> melissa chan in the wine

industry in california. "techknow" with surviving the big one coming up in just a few minutes. still to come, puerto rico has a lot of work to do after tropical storm christobal. vé

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm michael eaves in new york. thousands turn out to pay their respects to michael brown. the unarmed black teen was shot two weeks ago by a white police officer in ferguson, missouri. michael brown sr. calls for peace as they lay their son to rest today. also, peter theo curtis, released in the golon heights, taken by u.s. officials to tel aviv. and dozens of people were killed in bombings around iraq today, including nine people killed in

a mosque. iraq's new prime minister says he is hoping to form a government in two days. iceland is lowering volcano warnings. the country has been on alert ever since the volcano started rumbling earlier this month. meantime a wildfire is spreading in northern california. hundreds of people have been evacuated in trinity county. the fire has already burned 650 acres. >> i'm meteorologist dave warren. the tropics starting to look a little more active. tropical storm cristobal does not look that impressive. intensifying just a bit but not organized to look like a major threat. it is seeing wind speeds of 60

miles per hour, did increase its intensity. forecast to become a hurricane. watching that storm moving north now starting to turn to the northeast. cold front approaching for the northern plains, high pressure across the northeast, that will keep the storm off the coast out into the ocean, just cannot go into that area of high pressure and the front approaching, it is all being steered to the northeast. intense certifying to a hurricane in this area, 42 to 72 to 96 hours. and this will really start to increase the surf and create a risk of rip currents. this is not the direct impact from the storm but the surf with it certainly be picked up over the next few days. temperatures are really heating up. day after day they're getting higher and higher, the actual air temperature, over 100°, heat index values well over 100 that's why excessive heat values

are registered. right in this area we could see strong to severe storms. michael. >> dave, thanks a lot. more than two weeks after being killed, michael brown is being laid to rest now. thousands are gathered at the friendly tell bl missionary baptist church. , august the 9th sparking violence protests, but today is the day of remembrance. earlier reverend al sharpton spoke as did several other people including friends of and family shi say of michael brown. and right now you see the services are wrapping up at the friendly temple missionary baptist church. very shortly there will be a procession to the graveyard where michael brown will be laid to rest. robert ray is in ferguson.

so many people are in st. louis, solemn where you are today. i would assume the crowd would gather later in ferguson. ivity should be a peaceful day and no protests are scheduled to be held in ferguson, correct? >> reporter: indeed michael as the church service wraps up an michael brown will be laid to rest, people are gathering throughout the day where michael brown was shot and killed on august 9th and this evening there will be another gathering not a demonstration, not a protest, just a peaceful night, the family's wishes. we wonder, we asked the question, what would the legacy of michael brown's death be and where will this lead america in new discussions? reverend al sharpton had some thoughts on that earlier. let's listen. >> michael brown does not want to be remembered for a riot. he wants to be remembered as the one that made america deal with how we're going opolice in the

united states. [cheering and applause] >> this is not about you. >> so this sight here in ferguson, that will always be remembered, a place where people will visit for years to come. and like reverend al sharpton said, what will be the legacy of michael brown? not sure yet but we do know this: that for every wednesday for the next month or so a grand jury will meet. we've learned the grand jury makeup and it is interesting. seven men five women. all the facts are not out there but we certainly know that this is a community that is about to

heal and they want the message to spread across america, michael. >> robert ray if from ferguson. three members of the grand jury are black, only three members of the police force in ferguson are black. thanks for watching, al jazeera america. >> hello and welcome i'm phil torres here to talk about invocations that can change lives. the intersection of hardware and humanity and we're doing it in a unique way. marita davidson is a biologist specializing inning innings innd evolution. kosta grammatis is an engineer