FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Aug. 9 is the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, and police in St. Louis County say they’re expecting a peaceful weekend from protesters. But they add they would be prepared if the observance of Brown’s death turns violent.

Protest leaders are promising that the scheduled events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be calm. They have called on police to respect the free speech of demonstrators and to refrain from confronting protesters in a militarized manner.

Police used tear gas, armored vehicles, flash-bangs and other devices at times to control crowds after Brown was fatally shot by a now-former Ferguson officer. The tactics drew criticism from the Justice Department, among others.