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Lesley McSpadden Says She Received No Respect In Ferguson After Michael Brown’s Death

Apr 09, 2015

Lesley McSpadden

Source: (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Al Sharpton’s annual National Action Network conference kicked off this week with a panel that allowed the mother of Michael Brown to reveal some startling truths about her troubles since losing her son last summer.

In the panel, moderated by Iyanla Vanzant, Lesley McSpadden spoke about losing her son and how she’s received support from people all over the world, but is given no respect in the town in which the shooting took place. Brown was 18 when he was shot and killed by former officer Darren Wilson last summer. His death put Ferguson on the map, as hundreds took to the streets to protest his death.

“It’s scary to live in a city where you’re less than 5 miles away from where the incident happened and no one shows you any respect,” she said.

McSpadden praised the youth for their role in keeping the teen’s name alive, and asked parents to encourage their children and their dreams.

“Everyone in St. Louis can help and take the time out to support our young generation and let them know that they’re good enough to be an alderman, a mayor, a police officer, a lawyer and anything they want to be,” she said. “We have to encourage our young men and women so that actions can be done outside of these marches.”

Meanwhile, action has been taken rather swiftly in another police shooting that led to the death of Walter Scott in South Carolina.

With amateur footage showing former officer Michael Slager allegedly planting his Taser next to the former NAVY Seal’s lifeless body, his story of “fearing for his life” has since been challenged.

Slager was charged with murder on Tuesday.

You can read more on the panel, including coverage of the NAN conference, here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty 

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