Leslie

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.

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.

And they were making a big deal about why do I have red hair? Why do I have red hair? Why does she have red hair? Why does it matter? I didn't know that my hair color mattered so much or defined me as a person.

And they were making a big deal about why do I have red hair? Why do I have red hair? Why does she have red hair? Why does it matter? I didn't know that my hair color mattered so much or defined me as a person.

And I did that for about two months until I felt Mike in the dark. He said, my mama, right? And I know you hear these type of things from people when they tell, but it's real. It really is. And he came to me and he just said, Mama, I'm all right. And that gave me momentum.

And I did that for about two months until I felt Mike in the dark. He said, my mama, right? And I know you hear these type of things from people when they tell, but it's real. It really is. And he came to me and he just said, Mama, I'm all right. And that gave me momentum.

After that is when I knew I had to fight for him. You know, like, I can't let this be.

After that is when I knew I had to fight for him. You know, like, I can't let this be.

I've gotten letters from Germany, Africa, Brazil. And these were people expressing that they have witnessed police brutality too. And they're like, we need you down here. I was in my mind like, who do they think I am? What do they think? What powers do they think I have? What have I done? What am I doing? Because it's not changing my situation.

I've gotten letters from Germany, Africa, Brazil. And these were people expressing that they have witnessed police brutality too. And they're like, we need you down here. I was in my mind like, who do they think I am? What do they think? What powers do they think I have? What have I done? What am I doing? Because it's not changing my situation.

So I didn't know why these people were so excited and riled up and wanted me to come. And it was very confusing. And I didn't understand the protests. And then I come to realize that if we show up in numbers and we all are demanding the same thing, something's going to happen. Somebody's going to be looking and listening and they're going to say, oh, we can't have all those people.

So I didn't know why these people were so excited and riled up and wanted me to come. And it was very confusing. And I didn't understand the protests. And then I come to realize that if we show up in numbers and we all are demanding the same thing, something's going to happen. Somebody's going to be looking and listening and they're going to say, oh, we can't have all those people.