claim: a photograph shows a protester holding a "no mother should have to fear for her son's life every time he robs a store" sign in front of a fire station in ferguson, missouri.
question: ‘no mother should have to fear for her son’s life every time he robs a store’
origin: in august 2014, an unarmed 18-year-old black man named michael brown was shot to death by a white police officer in ferguson, missouri, after brown allegedly robbed a convenience store, an event that sparked widespread unrest and protests in ferguson and elsewhere.  three months later, a photograph showing a ferguson, missouri, protester holding a sign reading “no mother should have to fear for her son’s life every time he robs a store” was posted to the photo-sharing site imgur on 27 november 2014 along with the following message:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  the black community has every reason to be angry with the police, and the brutality they inflict. but making a martyr out of the kid that robbed a store and attacked a police officer is just mind boggling. micheal brown is one of the worst things to happen to race relations in a long time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  although the photograph does depict three protesters standing outside a fire department in ferguson, missouri, the wording on the sign has been altered. the original photograph was taken by mitch ryals and was published in the riverfront times on 1 october 2014. that picture documents that the message on the sign carried by the center protester actually read: “no mother should have to fear for her son’s life every time he leaves home”:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  the imgur user who posted the manipulated image eventually admitted to it, writing: “yes, i shopped this. it captured mine, and many others, frustration with this whole situation.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  we have big plans. we need your help.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  © 1995 - 2020 by snopes media group inc.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  this material may not be reproduced without permission.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  snopes and the snopes.com logo are registered service marks of snopes.com
comment: an image showing a ferguson protester holding a controversial sign is a digital fabrication.
summary: in august 2014, an unarmed 18-year-old black man named michael brown was shot to death by a white police officer after brown allegedly robbed a convenience store. three months later, a photograph showing a ferguson, missouri, protester holding a sign reading “no mother should have to fear for her son’s life every time he robs a store” was posted to the photo-sharing site imgur. the original photograph was taken by mitch ryals and was published in the riverfront times on 1 october 2014.