Dead, Dead Michael Brown: Celebratory Racist Song At Police Charity Dinner
A sickening, racist song celebrating the death of Michael Brown at a charity event organised by a retired LAPD officer has caused outrage. The event at the Elks Lodge in Glendale, California, was attended by mostly retired and serving police officers, TMZ reported.
The shocking incident took place last week, when the singer, Gary Fishell, performed a parody of the song, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, in which he changed the words to mock the killing of Michael Brown. Incredibly, Fishell is also a retired investigator for the Federal Government.
Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed black teen, was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, in August. Protests and unrest have spread across the United States since a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson.
Hmmm. RT @TMZ: Michael Brown — Horrific Racist Song At Charity Event… ‘And He’s Dead, Dead Michael Brown’ (VIDEO) http://t.co/bWZfMGKBzI
— Busta Rhymes (@BustaRhymes) December 23, 2014
The racist, celebratory nature of the song is said to have offended many present at the event and was recorded by one of the guests. Here are some of the lyrics published by TMZ.
Michael Brown learned a lesson about a messin’
With a badass policeman
And he’s bad, bad Michael Brown
Baddest thug in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
Meaner than a junkyard dog
Two men took to fightin’
And Michael punched in through the door
And Michael looked like some old Swiss cheese
His brain was splattered on the floor
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
The Elks Lodge have launched an investigation into the incident, but they claimed the event was independently arranged by retired LAPD Officer Joe Myers. Mr Myers has defended his role in the incident.
“How can I dictate what he [Fishell] says in a song? This is America. We can say what we want. This is a free America.”
Gary Fishell’s lawyer told TMZ that the singer realized that the song was “off color and in poor taste.”
The trustee for the Elks Lodge said that many of the members are upset about the song.
“It’s deplorable and inappropriate and the Lodge will take disciplinary action against [Fishell] and possibly the people who organized this event.”
