While people around the nation protested against the lack of indictments in the police killings of unarmed Black men, a bar in St. Joseph, Mo., tried to capitalize off the death of the unarmed Black teenager, Michael Brown, with an insensitive drink special Friday night.
The St. Joseph area bar, Mug Shots, offered six tequila shots for $10, in reference to the amount of times Brown was shot by a white officer.
Taken from a Fb friend, seen at Mugshots Bar. The #MichaelBrown special. Absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/h35uHyOclo
— Manuel Vega (@Mannyology254) December 6, 2014
The co-owner of the bar, who chose to remain anonymous to protect himself and his family, told WDAF-TV that he stole the idea to compete with the specials being offered by other bars in the area.
“It’s not meant to cause any harm,” he told WDAF-TV. “I should have thought a little bit more about it before I made it a shot special.”
The distasteful play on words drew criticism after word of the special spread through social media on Saturday. A few protesters showed up outside the bar raising signs and chanting.
The grand jury’s decision not to indict white police officer Darren Wilson for shooting and killing Brown was announced on Nov. 24, just over two weeks ago. Protests were sparked across the country in disgust and disappointment at the decision. The decision was a catalyst for national debates on police using excessive and deadly force.
Brian Kline, with St. Joseph Anonymous Group, spoke with the co-owner about the insensitivity of the shot special. The protesters didn’t come out to be violent, he told WDAF-TV.
Mug Shots, the bar “where sarcasm is always welcome,” cancelled the shot special and replaced it with a $12 drink referring to the owner as an a**hole.
