National Latino organizations are continuing their calls for peace and justice after the death of Michael Brown and the subsequent protests in Ferguson, Missouri. A congressional review of military-grade weaponry used by police in Ferguson has also been requested.

As Latin Post reported, 18-year-old Brown, an African-American, was shot six times by police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. Since Brown's death, protests have occurred against the Ferguson Police Department's treatment of residents. The protests have led to dozens of arrests, including journalists.

"Latinos -- like so many Americans of all backgrounds -- are collectively outraged at what has transpired on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, in the last week," Hispanic Federation President José Calderón said in a statement to Latin Post.

"We extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Michael Brown and the Ferguson community and stand with all who call for a swift, just investigation to determine how another unarmed Black young man was killed by those who are given the solemn responsibility to protect and serve all of us."

Calderón urged the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement departments across the country to respond to calls for "drastically different" methods when combating crime, while "protecting the human and civil rights of all Americans."

President Barack Obama has ordered the Justice Department and Attorney General Eric Holder to independently investigate Brown's death. Holder is scheduled to arrive in Ferguson on Wednesday.

Holder previously said he was "deeply concerned" by the deployment of military equipment and vehicles to combat the Ferguson protests. Holder said that DOJ officials are in contact with law enforcement in Ferguson as they help rebuild trust with the community. He added that the review of Brown's death will "take time to conduct, but it will be thorough and fair."

The use of military-grade weapons to combat the protests in Ferguson has become a concern for many individuals and national organizations.

The League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has called for Congress to review the Department of Defense Excess Property Program, also known as the "1033 Program," which directs the Department of Defense to provide excess military equipment to state and local civilian law enforcement agencies for "counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism operations, and to enhance officer safety."

"Police officers are using the same tactics and equipment that are used in overseas terrorist combat on Ferguson protesters," LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes said. "Local law enforcement can pick, and consequently receive, military-issue equipment out of a mail-order catalog. Is local law enforcement equating minority communities with overseas terrorists when dispatching snipers and tanks into American neighborhoods?"

As LULAC noted, up to 8,000 agencies from all levels of government can participate in the Defense Department's 1033 Program. The Missouri Department of Public Safety has the application for agencies wanting to participate with the 1033 Program. Additional applications, each one page, have to be completed if an agency seeks weapons.

"We highly encourage Congress to reexamine the 1033 program to avoid the militarization of local law enforcement in our communities and to evaluate the precedent set when facilitating the militarization of the police. Police must respect our civil liberties, and that includes an American's right to protest," Wilkes said.

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