PHOTOS Phaedra Parks with Michael Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden in Ferguson
The nation’s focus remains on the Heartland as details continue to emerge about the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was unarmed when he was shot and killed August 9 by Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson after being suspected of stealing of a box of Swisher Sweets. Also in the St. Louis area on August 9 was The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, who was there to do a signing for her book, Secrets of the Southern Belle: How to Be Nice, Work Hard, Look Pretty, Have Fun, and Never Have an Off Moment.
Phaedra, who is familiar with grief counseling from her experience as a funeral director, was later seen with Michael Brown’s family at a press conference. She shared the photos above in which she can be seen with Michael Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden (right), and comforting Michael Brown’s grandmother, Desuirea Harris (left).
Here’s the full photo collage:
“During my St. Louis visit, I had the pleasure of meeting #MichaelBrown’s mother Lesley McSpadden,” Phaedra wrote in the photo’s description. “Although, we come from different places & backgrounds, we are very much alike-We are both black women & mothers who deeply love our sons. Unfortunately, she is planning her son’s funeral while I struggle to make sure my sons never know her son’s fate.” Phaedra then added the string of hashtags: #fixitjesus #JusticeforMikeBrown #Ferguson #prayforpeace #prayforstlouis #StopPoliceBrutality
Prior to that, Phaedra posted the photo below of a man holding a cardboard sign that reads, “Ferguson police just executed my unarmed son!!!” She captioned it with a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote and some of her own thoughts:
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. -Martin Luther King, Jr. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Michael Brown an unarmed 17 year old black male murdered by police in Ferguson, MO (St. Louis suburb) on yesterday. He was slated to start college on a scholarship this Monday. #KillingYoungBlackMalesShouldNotBeATrend #StopTheSenselessViolence
It appears from her most recent tweet that Phaedra is no longer in St. Louis.