Carla Smith cries into Vaughan Holland's shoulder during the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

In D.C., shouts and a moment of silence during Ferguson vigil

The crowd holds up their hands after the march stopped across from the Verizon Center following the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot.  Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

The crowd holds up their hands after the march stopped across from the Verizon Center following the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Protesters hold up their hands as they chant "hands up don't shoot" during the march held after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Protesters hold up their hands as they chant “hands up don’t shoot” during the march held after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A police officer waves to the camera during the march held after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A police officer waves to the camera during the march held after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Passengers get off the bus after it was stopped by the march after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Passengers get off the bus after it was stopped by the march after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A man holds up her first during the march after National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A man holds up her first during the march after National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Marchers gather across from the Verizon Center after they marched through the streets of Washington D.C. following the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Marchers gather across from the Verizon Center after they marched through the streets of Washington D.C. following the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Two men embrace after the march stopped across from the Verizon center following the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Two men embrace after the march stopped across from the Verizon center following the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Diners observe the march as it made its way down U street after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Diners observe the march as it made its way down U street after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A woman in a cab holds up her hands in solidarity with the marchers after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A woman in a cab holds up her hands in solidarity with the marchers after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Protesters held up their fists in a sign of solidarity during the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Protesters held up their fists in a sign of solidarity during the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Two women march down the streets of Washington D.C. after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Two women march down the streets of Washington D.C. after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Two protesters argue during the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Two protesters argue during the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A woman holds up her hands in solidarity with the marchers after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A woman holds up her hands in solidarity with the marchers after the National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A woman holds up her first during the march after National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

A woman holds up her first during the march after National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Protesters turn onto U street during the march after National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

Protesters turn onto U street during the march after National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in Washington D.C. Protesters held a moment of silence for Michael Brown who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was unarmed and had his hands up at the time he was shot. Photo credit: Brian Nguyen

About Brian Nguyen

Brian Nguyen is a junior at the University of California, Davis.