The 25-year-old man has been charged with a racist attack on Morris “Mo” Pleasure at a nightclub in Wales
A reveler has been charged with a racist attack on ‘Earth, Wind and Fire’ star Morris ‘Mo’ Pleasure at a nightclub in Wales.
The American-born musician was attacked at Pier Pressure nightclub in Aberystwyth on April 3 after overtaking a man in a 2am queue.
Mr Pleasure, 60 – who also played with Michael Jackson and the Average White Band – was hit on the head and suffered racial slurs as he walked into the club. The attack was recorded on CCTV.
Hefin Parker, 25, from Aberystwyth, has since been charged with racially aggravated common assault and assault by beating Mr Pleasure.
He is scheduled to appear before the city magistrate on Wednesday.
Hefin Parker, 25, (not pictured) r has been charged with a racist attack on the Earth, Wind and Fire star Morris ‘Mo’ Pleasure, 60, (pictured) at a nightclub in Aberystwyth, Wales
Mr Pleasure moved to the seaside town of Aberystwyth, Wales, with his wife who grew up there more than two years ago.
He was with two sisters of his wife Kedma Macias at the Pier Pressure Club on the Royal Pier when he was attacked.
Police asked for witnesses into the attack on the multi-instrumentalist who is the musical director of star Bette Midler and released video footage of the attack.
At the time of the alleged attack in April, Mr Pleasure said: “It was a deeply harrowing experience.
“Aberystwyth is a magical place that has become a home for my family over the past year and a half. The people at Aber have welcomed me so warmly and the support I have received since this incident has been overwhelming.
The couple, whose daughter is just under a year old, thanked the community for their support.
Mr Pleasure said: ‘My wife and I have a little girl so we feel compelled to call out racism when we see and hear it in the hope that our daughter does not have to experience this type of abuse in her life.’
His wife added: “No one is a bigger supporter of Aberystwyth than I am. Racism is everywhere.
“It happens all the time, even in small things that people don’t realize. It’s about education and a deeper understanding that racism can and does exist in our beautiful city. As a community, we want to root out and call that out.”
Mr Pleasure was attacked at Pier Pressure nightclub (pictured) in Aberystwyth on April 3 after passing a man in a 2am queue. He was hit on the head and racially insulted
Police asked for witnesses into the attack on the multi-instrumentalist – who is star Bette Midler’s musical director – and released a CCTV image relating to the attack
Ms Macias, speaking just days after the attack, recalled how the strike came from a man queuing for the venue who aimed “every racial slur under the sun” at Mr Pleasure.
“You had a great night. My sisters went in first and when Mo followed them he was hit on the back of the head,” she said.
She described bouncers as “great” and “on Mo’s side” as they ordered the attacker to leave.
‘Mo came home very upset. He said: “I’m just used to it,” Ms Macias recalled.
“And that made me so sad. What he went through was absolutely disgusting. As a Black American, he’s been through this all his life.”
She said police were “great” in offering emotional support to Mr Pleasure and classifying the attack as a hate crime.
