Press Release

BET News Reports from the Ground in Ferguson, Missouri and Examines the Socially-Charged Tragedy of Michael Brown in the Special: "Justice For Ferguson: The Shooting of Michael Brown" Premiering Friday, August 22 at 7 PM*

August 20, 2014 at 5:45 PM EDT

Hosted by BET News Correspondent Marc Lamont Hill and Actress Keke Palmer, the Hour-Long Special Features an Exclusive Sit Down Interview with Michael Brown's Parents and Highlights the Social and Racial Implications of This Recent Tragedy

106 & PARK to Dedicate Its Social Media Platforms Solely to Conversations Happening in Ferguson as an Additional Outlet for the Area's Youth to Express Themselves and by Using the Hashtag #106HandsUp Can Let Their Voices Be Heard and Gather Information on How They Can Affect Change

For more info go to BET.com/MichaelBrown and join the conversation by using hashtags: #BETJustice

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Every African-American parent's worst nightmare is materializing as another unarmed black youth is killed by a police officer following a confrontation as he walked down the street. The shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri is a tragically too familiar narrative in Black America. Similar to the Trayvon Martin Case, this tragedy is garnering national attention and galvanizing public outrage and protest across the country. Hosted by BET NewsCorrespondent Marc Lamont Hilland Actress Keke Palmer, the BET News Special will deconstruct and examine the key elements of the case through first-hand accounts and will present an exclusive sit down interview with the Brown family. Premiering Friday, August 22 at 7 PM* the BET News Special: Justice For Ferguson: The Shooting of Michael Brown" will report on all of the elements that are leading this case to reach its fever pitch.

Excerpt from BET News' Exclusive interview with Michael Brown's family:

BET News: "When you think about the situation…how does that make you feel?"

Lesley McSpadden (Michael Brown's Mother): "You know what? The lies that are being told, they don't bother me because I know the truth. I know my child. So I know justice is coming. It's close."

The BET News special traces this story from when it first made headlines to the rallies that mobilized folks to the streets demanding justice. The special showcases on the ground footage captured walking through a protest with St. Louis native Nelly to the harrowing moments when the crew is caught in the cross-fire as police turn on protesters and journalists with tear gas and rubber bullets. The Justice For Ferguson special will report on new developments in the case including accounts from a witness who says she saw the murder and has raw uncensored never-before-seen footage just moments after the shooting. Additionally BET News speaks to Missouri Highway Patrol's Captain Ron Johnson and NAACP chair John Gaskin.

Log on to BET.com/MichaelBrown for exclusive video content, up-to-the-minute updates on the case and compelling interviews. Join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET's multiple social media platforms by using hashtag: #BETJustice; and following us @BETNews. Express yourself and let your voice be heard on what is happening in Ferguson by keeping the conversation going on 106 & PARK's social media platforms and using the hashtag #106HandsUp.

*All times are ET/PT.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

BET Networks
Luis Defrank, 212-205-3156
luis.defrank@bet.net

Source: BET Networks

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