TMZ has obtained stomach-turning video of a singer performing a racist version of “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” with the lyrics changed to “Dead, Dead Michael Brown” for a party thrown by a retired LAPD officer for his buddies — many of whom are reportedly also current and former cops.
It happened just last week at a party wrapping up a charity golf tournament held at Elks Lodge in Glendale, California, thrown by retired LAPD officer Joe Myers. The evening’s festivities included a performance from a singer, who TMZ ID’s as Gary Fishell, who is also a member of Elks Lodge. In the video, you can hear the singer perform a gleeful parody of “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” with the lyrics changed to “Dead, Dead Michael Brown.”
Here are just a few of the horrific lyrics celebrating the death of a kid at the hands of the police:
And he’s dead, dead Michael Brown
Deadest man in the whole damn town
His whole life’s long gone
Deader than a roadkill dog
www.youtube.com/embed/aEHVJCl1_2Y
Almost as unbelievable as the stupid, hateful lyrics about someone’s child being shot dead in an American street is the fact that not one person in that room seems to be bothered at all. Now, to be fair, you can’t see much of the action from the video, but no one stops the song. No one gasps audibly. From the vantage point of video, everyone seems to be carrying on as if this is all normal. That’s the scariest part of all.
Heartbreakingly, this is precisely the kind of thing protesters have been screaming about from the streets. It is our worst fears about racist cops come to life, in very clear terms. This is what mothers of black sons in America have to coach their precious babies to navigate every time they leave the house.
“Keep your hands in plain sight,” I imagine they repeat over and over again to those little faces looking up at them. “Don’t argue. Don’t fight back. Don’t give them a reason to hurt you.”
Don’t think that’s true? Just watch the video again.
More on the death of Michael Brown
Before you call Mike Brown a criminal, try to remember being a teenager
Don’t blame all police officers for Eric Garner and Michael Brown
What Pharrell has to say about Michael Brown may rub people the wrong way
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