Michael Brown’s Stepfather: ‘Burn This Bitch Down’
Michael Brown’s stepfather, Louis Head, an ex-con who is married to Brown’s mother, Leslie McSpadden urged Ferguson protesters to “burn this bitch down” Tuesday night.
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After consoling a weeping McSpadden, the 38-year-old Head–who was standing atop a platform in the middle of the agitated crowd of several hundred protesters–began screaming “Burn this bitch down!” He did this at least ten times, and at one point yelled for a microphone so that he could broadcast his message beyond the range of his unamplified voice…
In the days preceding the grand jury announcement, McSpadden and Michael Brown, Sr. issued statements calling for peaceful protests in the wake of the panel’s decision. Head, however, counseled arson. After a night of chaos and rioting in Ferguson, at least 10 businesses and two police cars were destroyed or damaged by fire, and 61 individuals were arrested.
Head is an ex-convict whose rap sheet includes two felony narcotics convictions, according to state records. He pleaded guilty in 1997 to a marijuana distribution charge and was put in a shock incarceration program and placed on probation for five years. After violating probation, Head’s release was revoked and he was remanded to state prison.
In mid-2003, Head was charged with narcotics trafficking, a felony count to which he later pleaded guilty. The St. Louis native was sentenced to seven years in prison. He was released in June 2008 after serving about five years in custody.[su_csky_ad]
tiredoftea November 25th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
His foolish, ill advised and inflammatory statements really needed to be published with his rap sheet?
Carla Akins November 25th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
You know he’s a black man, right?
tiredoftea November 25th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Oh, yeah, I forgot. Sorry, Never Mind!
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" November 25th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
I was wondering if this was going to get acknowledged…. Makes you wonder how much of this contributed to last nights escapades.
Carla Akins November 25th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
I am not crazy about his behavior but I doubt it had little effect. On numerous occasions he and his wife made public pleas for no violence and it made no difference. Those already intent on violence and those easily swayed were going to do as they pleased regardless.
Although I think the entire thing was a sham. the criminal behavior only hurts the cause and gives the detractors leverage.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" November 25th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
actually, it was Mikes biological father who made the plea for peace.
But what happened last night is an outright shame. It will certainly change how people and things are treated in the future. And not necessarily in a good way.
neworleans878 November 25th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Exactly. The best day’s work that those who disagree with the verdict can do is to remain calm.
craig7120 November 25th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
A few seem to be enjoying themselves
Grand Jury has delivered their verdict, not to my surprise was the decision not to indict. We’re a nation of laws, good & bad. We get the government we vote or not vote in power. Police in our society carry guns, the reason is, the public carries guns.
This must seem so insane for outsiders in Europe, Asia, even the middle east. This is America, an unarmed teen, children, elderly are murdered every day in america by gun.
I accept the decision, because it was rendered by a jury of 12 people like myself. Do I feel bad for the parents who lose a child to the violence that plagues our streets? Yes. Do I feel bad when a child loses his dad or mom to the gun violence while working to aid and protect our streets? Yes.
I never challenged a police officer, frankly it never occurred to me to pick a fight or resist an officers command. My dad gave me that advice, seemed reasonable.
My 2 cents as a St Louis city resident
rational_thinking_one November 25th, 2014 at 3:42 pm
You can only wonder what sort of example this guy was setting for Michael.
Candide Thirtythree November 26th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
I am pretty sure the looting and rioting was going to happen no matter what the verdict was.
There were hundreds of people from all over the country there just waiting to break into stores and set fires just for the fun of it. You could see in the videos that there were people with baseball bats busting out windows long after the stores had been entered and looted, they were just destroying just to be destroying and laughing and having a blast.