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Freddie Gray funeral: 'Most of us knew a lot of Freddie Grays. Too many' Freddie Gray funeral: 'Most of us knew a lot of Freddie Grays. Too many'
(less than a minute earlier)
Freddie Gray, the young man whose death after an arrest by police in Baltimore sparked a new wave of protests, was remembered at his funeral on Monday as “loving, caring and respectful” as speakers led rousing calls for justice.Freddie Gray, the young man whose death after an arrest by police in Baltimore sparked a new wave of protests, was remembered at his funeral on Monday as “loving, caring and respectful” as speakers led rousing calls for justice.
Hundreds of people packed a Baptist church in west Baltimore to observe a service for Gray, who died in hospital at the age of 25 on 19 April. His neck was broken a week earlier at some point during his arrest and transportation in a police van. He had been chased by several officers for “catching the eye” of a senior officer and running away. A criminal inquiry into his death is under way.Hundreds of people packed a Baptist church in west Baltimore to observe a service for Gray, who died in hospital at the age of 25 on 19 April. His neck was broken a week earlier at some point during his arrest and transportation in a police van. He had been chased by several officers for “catching the eye” of a senior officer and running away. A criminal inquiry into his death is under way.
Related: Thousands pay tribute to Freddie Gray at funeral in Baltimore – in picturesRelated: Thousands pay tribute to Freddie Gray at funeral in Baltimore – in pictures
The case has become the latest flashpoint for demonstrators who accuse law enforcement officers of killing young black men without justification. “Most of us are not here because we knew Freddie Gray,” Billy Murphy, the Gray family’s attorney, told the church. “Most of us are here because we knew a lot of Freddie Grays. Too many.”The case has become the latest flashpoint for demonstrators who accuse law enforcement officers of killing young black men without justification. “Most of us are not here because we knew Freddie Gray,” Billy Murphy, the Gray family’s attorney, told the church. “Most of us are here because we knew a lot of Freddie Grays. Too many.”
“Black Lives Matter” – the slogan adopted by a protest movement that has spread around the US since the fatal police shooting last August of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri – was emblazoned on a neon sign outside the church and was projected on to two large screens either side of the stage as mourners arrived.“Black Lives Matter” – the slogan adopted by a protest movement that has spread around the US since the fatal police shooting last August of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri – was emblazoned on a neon sign outside the church and was projected on to two large screens either side of the stage as mourners arrived.
In a blistering eulogy, pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant attacked the police for punishing Gray for “looking a man in the eye”, an instruction he said young black men are frequently condemned for failing to obey. Bryant led mourners in a chant of the longtime slogan of the civil rights movement: “No justice, no peace.”In a blistering eulogy, pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant attacked the police for punishing Gray for “looking a man in the eye”, an instruction he said young black men are frequently condemned for failing to obey. Bryant led mourners in a chant of the longtime slogan of the civil rights movement: “No justice, no peace.”
Among the mourners who joined Gray’s family were a daughter of Eric Garner, who was killed by police while unarmed last year in New York City as he told them: “I can’t breathe”; and the mother of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean man who died after being shot 41 times by New York officers in 1999.Among the mourners who joined Gray’s family were a daughter of Eric Garner, who was killed by police while unarmed last year in New York City as he told them: “I can’t breathe”; and the mother of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean man who died after being shot 41 times by New York officers in 1999.
Murphy urged the six Baltimore police officers who have been suspended over the death “to come forward and tell it all, just like you tell our citizens to do”. The US Department of Justice has opened an inquiry into whether civil rights charges should be brought against officers.Murphy urged the six Baltimore police officers who have been suspended over the death “to come forward and tell it all, just like you tell our citizens to do”. The US Department of Justice has opened an inquiry into whether civil rights charges should be brought against officers.
In tearful remarks, congressman Elijah Cummings, the Democrat who has represented Baltimore in Washington since 1996, said action must urgently be taken to halt the premature deaths of young black people.In tearful remarks, congressman Elijah Cummings, the Democrat who has represented Baltimore in Washington since 1996, said action must urgently be taken to halt the premature deaths of young black people.
Related: 'Freddie Gray was me': frustration with police simmers after death in BaltimoreRelated: 'Freddie Gray was me': frustration with police simmers after death in Baltimore
“I used to say our children were messengers to a future we will never see,” said Cummings. “Now our children are sending us to a future they will never see.”“I used to say our children were messengers to a future we will never see,” said Cummings. “Now our children are sending us to a future they will never see.”
Cummings directed a tearful plea towards the dozens of assembled television crews and reporters to shed more light on the lives of young men like Gray.Cummings directed a tearful plea towards the dozens of assembled television crews and reporters to shed more light on the lives of young men like Gray.
“When I look at all the cameras, I wonder: did you recognise Freddie when he was alive? Did you see him? Did you see him? Did you see him?”“When I look at all the cameras, I wonder: did you recognise Freddie when he was alive? Did you see him? Did you see him? Did you see him?”
Gray, who grew up poor in west Baltimore and suffered lead poisoning from shoddy low-income housing, was recalled by his family as a “very loving, caring and respectful young man who always had a smile on his face,” in an obituary handed to the arriving crowds.Gray, who grew up poor in west Baltimore and suffered lead poisoning from shoddy low-income housing, was recalled by his family as a “very loving, caring and respectful young man who always had a smile on his face,” in an obituary handed to the arriving crowds.
“Through me you will live,” Gray’s sisters Carolina and Fredericka, known as Missy, told him in a tribute read during the service by their stepfather, Richard Shipley. “You will still laugh and love. You will still sing and dance. You will still hug and kiss. You will forever be in our lives.”“Through me you will live,” Gray’s sisters Carolina and Fredericka, known as Missy, told him in a tribute read during the service by their stepfather, Richard Shipley. “You will still laugh and love. You will still sing and dance. You will still hug and kiss. You will forever be in our lives.”
Dozens of people filed through the New Shiloh Baptist church in the hour before the service to view Gray’s body in an open white casket with gold detail. Gray lay wearing a white shirt, dark tie and trousers and white shoes. Some crossed themselves in prayer, others quietly sobbed and dabbed their eyes with handkerchiefs.Dozens of people filed through the New Shiloh Baptist church in the hour before the service to view Gray’s body in an open white casket with gold detail. Gray lay wearing a white shirt, dark tie and trousers and white shoes. Some crossed themselves in prayer, others quietly sobbed and dabbed their eyes with handkerchiefs.
After a weekend in which 34 people were arrested when peaceful marches and demonstrations gave way to chaotic clashes with police and scattered vandalism, there were a series of calls through Monday’s service for calm and unity.After a weekend in which 34 people were arrested when peaceful marches and demonstrations gave way to chaotic clashes with police and scattered vandalism, there were a series of calls through Monday’s service for calm and unity.
Every 10 seconds, the “Black Lives Matter” projection switched to “& All Lives Matter” – an adaptation that is disliked by some protest leaders, who insist the disproportionately high number of African Americans killed by law enforcement is an emergency on which people must be forced to focus.Every 10 seconds, the “Black Lives Matter” projection switched to “& All Lives Matter” – an adaptation that is disliked by some protest leaders, who insist the disproportionately high number of African Americans killed by law enforcement is an emergency on which people must be forced to focus.
Eileen Gillen, one of the few white mourners in the pews, said she was posting articles about Gray’s death to her Facebook page in an attempt to prompt her white friends into protesting alongside black neighbours.Eileen Gillen, one of the few white mourners in the pews, said she was posting articles about Gray’s death to her Facebook page in an attempt to prompt her white friends into protesting alongside black neighbours.
Related: Baltimore police seek fix to 'broken relationship' amid Freddie Gray protestsRelated: Baltimore police seek fix to 'broken relationship' amid Freddie Gray protests
“We’ve just never had it bad with the cops,” she said. “When I was growing up young white men would shoplift and do bad things and they would never be troubled by the police. Our reality is not their reality.”“We’ve just never had it bad with the cops,” she said. “When I was growing up young white men would shoplift and do bad things and they would never be troubled by the police. Our reality is not their reality.”
Beside her, Wendy Brown said her 23-year-old son, Colby, was unjustifiably killed by Baltimore police in 2007. “I hope people out there don’t think this just started,” she said.Beside her, Wendy Brown said her 23-year-old son, Colby, was unjustifiably killed by Baltimore police in 2007. “I hope people out there don’t think this just started,” she said.
Murphy told mourners the eyes of the US were on Baltimore, waiting to see “whether we got the stuff” to respond to Gray’s death. “Whether we can be one people rather than a community divided by the superficialities of race,” he said.Murphy told mourners the eyes of the US were on Baltimore, waiting to see “whether we got the stuff” to respond to Gray’s death. “Whether we can be one people rather than a community divided by the superficialities of race,” he said.
Yet anger continued to simmer. To sustained applause and cheers, Murphy delivered a sharp criticism of Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the city’s embattled African American mayor, who has been accused of being slow and unsteady in her response to Gray’s death. “Some of us forget she is not the enemy,” said Murphy. “Some of us forget where she came from.”Yet anger continued to simmer. To sustained applause and cheers, Murphy delivered a sharp criticism of Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the city’s embattled African American mayor, who has been accused of being slow and unsteady in her response to Gray’s death. “Some of us forget she is not the enemy,” said Murphy. “Some of us forget where she came from.”
The attorney said the mayor knew as well as they did what the police were like. “Murderers!” one man shouted. “Liars!” a woman said.The attorney said the mayor knew as well as they did what the police were like. “Murderers!” one man shouted. “Liars!” a woman said.
Equal but opposing fury was on display on Sunday afternoon at a pro-police rally in Annapolis, the state capital, where a small gathering led by Kelly Wince, the president of United For Blue, showed support for law enforcement officers.Equal but opposing fury was on display on Sunday afternoon at a pro-police rally in Annapolis, the state capital, where a small gathering led by Kelly Wince, the president of United For Blue, showed support for law enforcement officers.
“They are spit on, cursed at, have rocks and bottles thrown at them,” said Wince. “They are pushed around, and now they have cellphones shoved in their faces as they try to do their jobs.”“They are spit on, cursed at, have rocks and bottles thrown at them,” said Wince. “They are pushed around, and now they have cellphones shoved in their faces as they try to do their jobs.”
Cellphone footage of Gray’s arrest showed him being dragged into the police van while yelling apparently in pain. One of his legs appeared to be limp. Murphy credited cellphone cameras with overturning previous assumptions that police accounts that justified fatal incidents could be trusted.Cellphone footage of Gray’s arrest showed him being dragged into the police van while yelling apparently in pain. One of his legs appeared to be limp. Murphy credited cellphone cameras with overturning previous assumptions that police accounts that justified fatal incidents could be trusted.
However, Wince, whose husband is a Washington DC police officer and brother a police sergeant in Pennsylvania, said patience with the protest movement had worn thin.However, Wince, whose husband is a Washington DC police officer and brother a police sergeant in Pennsylvania, said patience with the protest movement had worn thin.
“I’m sick and tired of this generation saying that the justice system is screwed up and needs to be fixed, and blaming the police for everything,” she said.“I’m sick and tired of this generation saying that the justice system is screwed up and needs to be fixed, and blaming the police for everything,” she said.
The city inquiry is due to be completed by Friday. It is expected to be passed to state prosecutors who will consider whether or not to bring charges against the officers.The city inquiry is due to be completed by Friday. It is expected to be passed to state prosecutors who will consider whether or not to bring charges against the officers.