Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton has been told to stay away from the funeral of South Carolina police shooting victim Walter Scott, reports The Daily News.

"We don't want another Ferguson type of circus here," a source close to the Scott family told The Daily News, in reference to the Missouri town that was besieged by violent demonstrations last year after black teenager Michael Brown was killed by a white police officer.

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 "The funeral is only going to be close family members," said Scott family attorney Chris Stewart."The Reverend Al has called and expressed his support and condolences," said Stewart. "The family is very appreciative."

Sharpton has been strongly critical of Scott's shooting by North Charleston Police Officer Michael Slager, calling the murder "senseless" and proposed nationalizing the country's police forces as a way to curb brutality.

Despite saying he wasn't going to the funeral, Sharpton released a statement Friday morning saying that "I have been invited to preach in North Charleston, SC, on Sunday and to help lead a healing prayer vigil that afternoon by local clergy who have worked on this case from the beginning."

A meeting of pastors for a group of North Charleston churches prepard the way for Sharpton to make an appearance there this weekend as memorials are held for Scott, reports the Daily News.

Rev. Rivers, one of the organizers of the event, refuted reports that Scott's family had asked Sharpton not to come to Charleston. Rivers said the family never made that request, and in fact welcome him and have invited him to Scott's funeral Saturday.

The Scott family will attend a Sunday afternoon prayer vigil and memorial at the scene of the shooting. The vigil is set for 3 p.m., officials said.

Stand Against Violence Everywhere has also organized a peace march in North Charleston for Saturday afternoon once the funeral has ended. Organizers say it will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Rivers Avenue and Mall Drive in North Charleston and progress to City Hall.

Rivers said members of area churches are going to be working with the North Charleston Police Department to talk about racial profiling. In 2011, the NAACP accused the department of racial profiling attended by Jon Zumalt, who was chief at the time. Zumalt denied officers targeted minorities in the community, but said he wants a heavy officer presence in areas with the highest crime.

On Thursday, Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon echoed those statements, adding often they find the concentration of crime highest in minority neighborhoods.

TagsAl Sharpton Told to Stay Away from Scott Funeral, Walter Scott, Al Sharpton, North Charleston, south carolina, police shooting