Thousands came together at the funeral for Mike Brown to mourn the loss and celebrate his life Monday. The 18-year-old teen was gunned down by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri one day before he was to begin his collegiate career.
Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy and used that platform to blast the current police culture in the U.S. “America is going to have to come to terms with [the fact that] there’s something wrong, that we have money to give military equipment to police forces but we don’t have money for training, and money for public education and money to train our children,” Sharpton said. “How do you think we look when the world can see you can’t come up with a police report, but you can find a video,” in reference to a surveillance video released of Brown allegedly stealing from a convenience store shortly before he was shot to death. This reference led those in attendance to give Sharpton a standing ovation.
Families who’ve experienced the heartache of losing a young Black man to racism or police brutality were in attendance. Representatives of Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell, and Oscar Brown showed their support to Michael Brown’s family at the proceedings. The line into the church began forming at 7 a.m., with the service beginning three hours later. The church accommodated up to 5,000 people, with others still waiting outside during the funeral.
Martin Luther King‘s son and daughter, along with Snoop Dogg, Spike Lee, Sean Combs, Talib Kweli, and Nelly were in attendance.
Other celebrities voiced their support for the young man via Twitter:
Our Brother Mike Brown’s St. Louis Cardinals Hat Lays Upon His Casket Here At The Home Going… http://t.co/kpNyL3MEOX
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) August 25, 2014
Let’s all make the day count as we remember Michael Brown today. Make it a movement and not a moment!
— Tom Joyner (@TJMShow) August 25, 2014
We are praying for the Brown family, friends, the city of #Ferguson, and all who have been affected, for healing and wholeness.
— TD Jakes (@BishopJakes) August 25, 2014
When your funeral is at a church with missionary baptist church in the title, it won’t be a somber affair. It’s a home going! #MikeBrown
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) August 25, 2014
Tmrw morning a mother and a father are going to bury their son. I can’t. My heart is heavy. #MikeBrown
— Michael Ealy (@MichaelEaly) August 25, 2014
MBrown,EGarner,TMartin,ADiallo,SBell, ALouima, OGrant, etc. Police killing UNARMED Black men must stop! NO EXCUSE 4 it – period!
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) August 25, 2014
Heart heavy. #MichaelBrown
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) August 25, 2014
Just met & offered deep condolences to Mr. Michael Brown, Sr
— Hill Harper (@hillharper) August 25, 2014
Pray for the Brown family today.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 25, 2014