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The Rev. Al Sharpton says the grand jury decision to not indict Officer Darren Wilson is an absolute blow and added that the fight is not over.

It was expected, but still an absolute blow to those of us that wanted to see a fair and open trial. I think that it is clear that even when you see a blow coming it still hurts nonetheless, Sharpton said late Monday evening from his Harlem offices, according to video posted by Mediaite.

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Sharpton said the family of Michael Brown now joins others who collectively share the pain of having a loved one taken by law enforcement.

(Also on POLITICO: Congressional Black Caucus denounces Ferguson grand jury)

The civil rights activist and MSNBC host denounced the explanation of the non-indictment by St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch. Sharpton called certain claims about the investigation flawed and very suspect.

Despite calls for calm, Ferguson became a scene of chaos Monday night after the grand jurys decision not to indict Wilson was announced.

The Associated Press reports that at least a dozen businesses were burned and authorities reported hearing hundreds of gunshots. Rioters looted businesses and two police vehicles were set ablaze.

Police told the AP that dozens of people were arrested.

Sharpton said he will travel to Ferguson on Tuesday where he will hold a news conference and then plans to return to New York for a rally to call for the federal government to escalate a criminal indictment.

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Sharpton: Ferguson decision 'an absolute blow'

The Rev. Al Sharpton says Rand Pauls efforts to engage black voters could present a strategic challenge for Democrats: If the Republican senator runs for president, fewer African Americans may be motivated to show up and vote against him.

The civil rights activist and TV host had breakfast with the Kentucky senator last week, and the pair discussed the need for criminal justice reform before disagreeing over how to deal with the immigration system.

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Democrats have traditionally done well among African American voters, especially with Barack Obama at the top of the ticket. In 2016, Democrats will need maximum black turnout in a lot of states, Sharpton told POLITICO.

What I think is more dangerous for Democrats is, if a guy like Paul is out there, if he becomes the nominee, for arguments sake, he does not generate a turnout against him among African Americans, Sharpton said. He added, If hes able to neutralize his past image on civil rights, if he becomes the candidate and if you dont get a huge black turnout saying Were afraid [of him], that could be a pitfall for Democrats.

Sharpton pointed to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs efforts to engage the black community as an example. Bloomberg didnt get a lot of black votes but because he reached out, a lot of blacks were not energized to come out and vote against him, Sharpton said.

Paul came under fire in his 2010 Senate race for equivocating over whether the Civil Rights Act should apply to private businesses (he later stressed he would have voted for the measure). But he has made engaging minority communities a priority in recent years. He has called for restoration of voting rights for some non-violent felons; visited Ferguson, Missouri, where a white police officer fatally shot a black teenager; worked with Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey on criminal justice reform and decried police militarization. Hes also called on the GOP to be more inclusive.

Sharpton stressed that he is not endorsing Paul, but suggested he was impressed with Pauls efforts.

Now that hes [working] with Booker, going to Ferguson, having breakfast with Al Sharpton he is beginning to demonstrate some very open, very consistent patterns of trying to broaden the framework of a potential candidacy, Sharpton said. I think he knows its unlikely someone like Al Sharpton would endorse him, but I cant ignore him. Hes openly dealing with issues that [politicians] including people in the Democratic Party, havent done.

Sharpton asked for the meeting, which was held in the Senate dining room, and said he was pleased that Paul was willing to get together in such a high-profile place. The reverend floated a possible invitation to his annual civil rights conference, and Paul did not rule out attending. The senators office confirmed that he is open to a possible appearance.

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Sharpton: Paul's outreach to blacks could hurt Dems in 2016

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rev. Al Sharpton will hold a press conference Monday night to respond to the grand jury decision in the police shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.

Sharpton's press conference will be held 9:15 p.m. at his National Action Network's headquarters in Harlem.

The grand jury decision in the Ferguson case -- where white Police Officer Darren Wilson is accused of shooting the black unarmed teen -- is expected to be announced Monday evening, according to Brown family lawyerBenjamin Crump.

The Brown shooting,which happened a few weeksafter Eric Garner died in police custody in Tompkinsville, has sparked months of unrest and protests in Missouri.

In the Garner case, a special grand jury convened by District Attorney Daniel Donovan continues to listen to evidence and testimony as it decides on the fate of Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo.

Duringa press conference last week, Sharpton, who has been an advocate for the families of the victims in both cases, said there's not as much tension on Staten Island as there is in Ferguson as the communities await the results.

But, he said, the tension in Ferguson could inflame the situation on Staten Island.

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Rev. Al Sharpton to respond to Ferguson grand jury verdict during press conference Monday night

Kevin Jackson reports on Ferguson calls out "Race pimp" Al Sharpton
Kevin Jackson reports on the situation in Ferguson, Missouri and the ridiculousness of "race pimp" Al Sharpton.

By: SGT Hartsock

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Kevin Jackson reports on Ferguson & calls out "Race pimp" Al Sharpton - Video

Associated Press 12:32 p.m. MST November 22, 2014

Kimberly Michelle Ballinger, center left, domestic partner of Akai Gurley, who was shot by an NYPD officer, is joined by Rev. Al Sharpton, left, Gurley's daughter Akaila Gurley, 2, and relative Janice Davis-Asiedu at the National Action Network in New York Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Police have described a rookie officer's shooting of Akai Gurley in a Brooklyn staircase Thursday as an apparent accident.(Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP)

NEW YORK The Rev. Al Sharpton is calling for prosecutors to do a thorough investigation into the police killing of an unarmed man in a darkened stairwell at a public housing building in New York City.

Police have described a rookie officer's shooting of Akai Gurley in a Brooklyn staircase as an apparent accident. But Sharpton asked Saturday how that can be known "until there is a thorough investigation of all that happened."

He's also calling for the New York Police Department to improve its training and procedures. Sharpton was joined by members of Gurley's family.

Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson has called Thursday's shooting "deeply troubling" and said it warrants "an immediate, fair and thorough investigation."

The NYPD has been working to give rookie officers more training and time with more senior officers.

"Things are a little tense right now as you can imagine," Kirsten Foy, an official with Sharpton's group, told reporters Friday. He said Ballinger was consulting a psychologist to help explain Gurley's death to his 2-year-old daughter, which was "a very difficult thing to have to explain to a child when you've always taught them that the police were there to be our friends and to protect us."

Mayor Bill de Blasio, calling Gurley's death a "tragedy," met with some of his relatives Friday evening. Police Commissioner William Bratton similarly described the shooting as a tragedy and said the 28-year-old man was "totally innocent" and wasn't engaged in criminal activity when the officer fired his weapon.

Why exactly Officer Peter Liang had his gun drawn and fired while patrolling the Louis Pink Houses in Brooklyn's gritty East New York neighborhood with his partner late Thursday night wasn't immediately clear, but authorities have indicated it appeared to be an accidental shooting.

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Al Sharpton joins family of man killed by NYPD