Yvette Nicole Brown

After Mike's killing, Leslie and her family were plunged into deep grief.

After Mike's killing, Leslie and her family were plunged into deep grief.

The days blurred together, the way they tend to do after a loss, with time standing still and rushing forward at the same time. Kiki remembers those dark days.

The days blurred together, the way they tend to do after a loss, with time standing still and rushing forward at the same time. Kiki remembers those dark days.

But while they were processing an unimaginable loss, a movement was starting. On August 10th, after a peaceful candlelight vigil, the first of several nights of unrest began.

But while they were processing an unimaginable loss, a movement was starting. On August 10th, after a peaceful candlelight vigil, the first of several nights of unrest began.

Police officers showed up in riot gear to confront protesters. The next night, they fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the crowds. Leslie remembers it was impossible to escape what was going on outside because tear gas was literally seeping into her family's home.

Police officers showed up in riot gear to confront protesters. The next night, they fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the crowds. Leslie remembers it was impossible to escape what was going on outside because tear gas was literally seeping into her family's home.

Leslie remembers she and her family piled into the car that night, stopping to pick up her mom before heading to a downtown hotel. Nearby, tear gas hung in the air and armored police vehicles blocked streets.

Leslie remembers she and her family piled into the car that night, stopping to pick up her mom before heading to a downtown hotel. Nearby, tear gas hung in the air and armored police vehicles blocked streets.

The militarized display of force from police, sniper rifles, armored vehicles, flash grenades, and tear gas was stunning. Ferguson, with a population of 22,000 people, was more like a war zone than a small town. Some officers wore riot gear with shields, batons, and helmets. Others were decked out in army-style fatigues and body armor.

The militarized display of force from police, sniper rifles, armored vehicles, flash grenades, and tear gas was stunning. Ferguson, with a population of 22,000 people, was more like a war zone than a small town. Some officers wore riot gear with shields, batons, and helmets. Others were decked out in army-style fatigues and body armor.

What was happening in Ferguson was a real-time representation of the police brutality happening in Black communities across the country, and it was igniting a budding movement, Black Lives Matter.

What was happening in Ferguson was a real-time representation of the police brutality happening in Black communities across the country, and it was igniting a budding movement, Black Lives Matter.

The protests, sparked by Mike's murder, were changing the way Americans talked about race and policing. It was no longer just a local issue. This was happening on a national level. Tensions were high, even reaching the White House. On August 12, just three days after Mike's killing, then-President Barack Obama issued a statement.

The protests, sparked by Mike's murder, were changing the way Americans talked about race and policing. It was no longer just a local issue. This was happening on a national level. Tensions were high, even reaching the White House. On August 12, just three days after Mike's killing, then-President Barack Obama issued a statement.

As the story made headlines across the country, protesters live-streamed clashes with police, and conspiracy theories flooded social media. Fake photos made the rounds, too, like one of a man holding a gun that people falsely claimed was Mike. Another photo supposedly showed that the officer had broken bones in his face. This was also a hoax.

As the story made headlines across the country, protesters live-streamed clashes with police, and conspiracy theories flooded social media. Fake photos made the rounds, too, like one of a man holding a gun that people falsely claimed was Mike. Another photo supposedly showed that the officer had broken bones in his face. This was also a hoax.

Legacy media also spread false and unfair narratives about Mike, with the New York Times writing that he was, quote, "...no angel." All of this attention from the hateful rhetoric online to the support of protests was new to Leslie.

Legacy media also spread false and unfair narratives about Mike, with the New York Times writing that he was, quote, "...no angel." All of this attention from the hateful rhetoric online to the support of protests was new to Leslie.