The death of Freddie Gray — and the violence that followed on the streets of Baltimore — spark reminders of Ferguson and what happened after a police officer killed Michael Brown.
"Do I think it's OK? No. But somebody needs to do something," said Michael Brown Sr.
Doing something positive is what Michael Brown Sr. wants to do, though he said he is not surprised with the violence and turmoil that hit the streets of Baltimore after the death of 25-year old Gray while in police custody.
"Like the family said, they wanted peaceful, we wanted peace," Brown said. "But at the end of the day those fires, the rioting, the looting, all of that brought awareness to what is going on in our communities."
His community, Ferguson, Missouri, saw the same chaos when his son, of the same name, was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer.
Michael Brown Sr. says he wants to keep awareness as to what's going on in St. Louis and elsewhere.
That change comes in the newly formed Michael Brown Chosen for Change Foundation.
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"It involves helping people get jobs, educating the community further about the issues that are happening around us," said Jana M. Gamble, a board member of the foundation.
They say it's asking, 'why are we seeing more destruction? And another case involving use of force by law enforcement and the death of a black person.
"Whatever you've done or not done you shouldn't have to fear the police," Gamble said.
Moving forward has not been easy for Brown.
"I miss him very much," he said. "I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat ..."
But he gets up every day and takes trips like the one to Los Angeles to spread a new message.
"Stay around positive people, people that keep you uplifted," he said.
