Leslie

They took me to a funeral home, and they walked me to the room, and I just remember them opening the doors, and I saw two rows of seats, two pews, and it felt like the longest walk ever. But he was at the end.

Like, I don't want to be able to tell that his head is swollen or that his eye is gone. I want him to look just like himself. And he did a damn good job.

Like, I don't want to be able to tell that his head is swollen or that his eye is gone. I want him to look just like himself. And he did a damn good job.

I never imagined burying my son. And I never imagined those dynamics surrounding his death either. I never imagined the police shooting my son. Nothing of that happened. to my son. It took 44 minutes to bring him here and this man killed him within less than 44 seconds. I never imagined any of that.

I never imagined burying my son. And I never imagined those dynamics surrounding his death either. I never imagined the police shooting my son. Nothing of that happened. to my son. It took 44 minutes to bring him here and this man killed him within less than 44 seconds. I never imagined any of that.

You've not had one conversation with me as a mother. And you're selling neckties with his face on them at his funeral. A funeral that costs thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars. There are celebrities here. There are pastors here from all over the world. There are people here because their heart told them to be here. And what they believe here. And you're selling a necktie. I was disgusted.

You've not had one conversation with me as a mother. And you're selling neckties with his face on them at his funeral. A funeral that costs thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars. There are celebrities here. There are pastors here from all over the world. There are people here because their heart told them to be here. And what they believe here. And you're selling a necktie. I was disgusted.

I could not believe that. I couldn't believe that there was a website set up selling hats. The folks who were doing it were supposed to love Mike and care about Mike. But couldn't I tell you one thing about Mike? Not one thing, his favorite food, favorite color, how he was in school, what type of big brother he was, what type of son, you know. But they thought that it was okay to profit, right?

I could not believe that. I couldn't believe that there was a website set up selling hats. The folks who were doing it were supposed to love Mike and care about Mike. But couldn't I tell you one thing about Mike? Not one thing, his favorite food, favorite color, how he was in school, what type of big brother he was, what type of son, you know. But they thought that it was okay to profit, right?

off of Mike's death. And they're still doing that today.

off of Mike's death. And they're still doing that today.

I was on the news and on the radio and probably on a plane Within a week. And I had never been on an airplane. So I was facing fears and, you know, being courageous and being like super mom. Because when it comes down to it, we're going to do whatever we have to do. And that's just what I did.

I was on the news and on the radio and probably on a plane Within a week. And I had never been on an airplane. So I was facing fears and, you know, being courageous and being like super mom. Because when it comes down to it, we're going to do whatever we have to do. And that's just what I did.

With all the travel, that's where Louis became like, you know, the parent. And he was home with them, getting them back and forth to school, helping with homework more than I was at the time.

With all the travel, that's where Louis became like, you know, the parent. And he was home with them, getting them back and forth to school, helping with homework more than I was at the time.

Going to the salon after everything happened was, it was the same as going to the grocery store. Going to the airport, you're being recognized and noticed by people. They want to tell you something. They want to show you something. They want to invite you somewhere. Some people saying things that were mean and nasty, like, well, they didn't do anything when my brother was killed.

Going to the salon after everything happened was, it was the same as going to the grocery store. Going to the airport, you're being recognized and noticed by people. They want to tell you something. They want to show you something. They want to invite you somewhere. Some people saying things that were mean and nasty, like, well, they didn't do anything when my brother was killed.

Yeah, it was chaotic. It was confusion. Some people would just walk up and want to hug you.

Yeah, it was chaotic. It was confusion. Some people would just walk up and want to hug you.

Immediately. Immediately. Yeah, as I said, when we were on Canfield, the things that I was hearing from the officers, the disrespect for Mike laying in the street four and a half hours, the disrespect to me as his mother, the disrespect for his human life, it happened immediately. It happened even before my son probably hit the ground. The disrespect started.