Michael Brown, Sr.: ‘A Piece of Me is Gone’

Reporter II August 1, 2015

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Michael Brown, Sr., father of teenager Michael Brown who was shot by a policeman in Ferguson, Missouri, speaks during a press conference about the UN Committee Against Torture who convenes this week to evaluate the US government's compliance with the Convention Against Torture, in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini)

Michael Brown Sr. holds up a plaque remembering his son, Michael Brown, to show volunteers as they remove items left at a makeshift memorial to Michael Brown Wednesday, May 20, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. The memorial that has marked the place where Brown was fatally shot by a police officer in August has been removed and will be replaced with the permanent plaque. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY

ST. LOUIS (USA Today) — The father of Michael Brown still grieves for his son, but finds solace in the change spurred by the teenager’s death as the one-year anniversary of his Aug. 9 shooting nears.

Michael Brown, Sr., plans to remain visible in an effort to get justice for his son and others killed by police officers, he told USA TODAY on Friday. He’s proud of national and local efforts that followed his son’s death, including the ouster of several Ferguson, Mo., leaders, President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and increased use of police body cameras around the country.

Yet, as Aug. 9 approaches, the father relives those treacherous moments when he first learned his son was dead at 18.

“All the emotions, all the thoughts, the scenes, everything are just repeating themselves,” the 37-year-old man said. “A piece of my heart, a piece of my soul, a piece of me is gone that I can never get back.”

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