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Hundreds gather in Ferguson for Michael Brown's funeral | Hundreds gather in Ferguson for Michael Brown's funeral |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of mourners are attending the funeral for the black teenager killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri. | |
Michael Brown, 18, who was unarmed, was killed on 9 August after being stopped by a white police office for walking in the middle of the street. | Michael Brown, 18, who was unarmed, was killed on 9 August after being stopped by a white police office for walking in the middle of the street. |
His death sparked days of protests and violent clashes, but tensions appear to have eased in recent days. | His death sparked days of protests and violent clashes, but tensions appear to have eased in recent days. |
On Monday, long lines of mourners entered the Friendly Temple Baptist Church where the service is being held. | On Monday, long lines of mourners entered the Friendly Temple Baptist Church where the service is being held. |
Two poster-sized photos of Mr Brown were placed inside the church near the casket, along with another photo of him as a small child. | |
Those in the church sang, clapped and danced to gospel music before the service started. | |
'Senseless killing' | |
Mr Brown's family addressed mourners, describing Michael as a gentle soul. | |
His cousin, Eric Davis, said his generation had stood up to what had happened in Ferguson. | |
"We have had enough. We have had enough of having our brothers and sisters killed in the streets," he said. | |
"Hear our voice. We have had enough of this senseless killing." | |
Civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are among those in attendance. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon did not attend. | |
President Barack Obama has sent three White House aides to represent him. | |
The mood outside the church was peaceful and sombre, said BBC correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan who is in St Louis. | |
"We don't know the Brown family but our hearts empathise with them for their loss and the senseless violence," one mourner told the BBC. | "We don't know the Brown family but our hearts empathise with them for their loss and the senseless violence," one mourner told the BBC. |
But there is still anger in Ferguson, which has a majority black population, after the shooting by white police officer, Darren Wilson - who is currently suspended on full pay. | But there is still anger in Ferguson, which has a majority black population, after the shooting by white police officer, Darren Wilson - who is currently suspended on full pay. |
"If Darren Wilson is not charged, there will be an uprising," another mourner said. | "If Darren Wilson is not charged, there will be an uprising," another mourner said. |
A grand jury panel of residents has begun hearing evidence in the case, though the country prosecutor has said the process could take until October. | |
The National Guard, which was deployed to deal with violent clashes in Ferguson last week, started to withdraw from the area on Saturday as tensions showed signs of easing. | The National Guard, which was deployed to deal with violent clashes in Ferguson last week, started to withdraw from the area on Saturday as tensions showed signs of easing. |
'No rage' | 'No rage' |
On Sunday, Michael Brown's father made his plea for calm to a crowd gathered at the Peace Fest 2014 festival, a rally against police violence in St Louis. | |
"Tomorrow all I want is peace," he said. | |
Rev Al Sharpton also addressed the crowd, telling them the day of the funeral was not for "rage" but "about the legacy and memory of his [Michael Brown Snr's] son". | Rev Al Sharpton also addressed the crowd, telling them the day of the funeral was not for "rage" but "about the legacy and memory of his [Michael Brown Snr's] son". |
"We don't want anything tomorrow to happen that might defile the name of Michael Brown," the reverend added. | "We don't want anything tomorrow to happen that might defile the name of Michael Brown," the reverend added. |
Michael Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden took the microphone to thank the crowd. | Michael Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden took the microphone to thank the crowd. |
She said she had seen her son's body at the morgue for the first time on Sunday since the day of the shooting. | She said she had seen her son's body at the morgue for the first time on Sunday since the day of the shooting. |
The family of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Florida neighbourhood watch organiser who was later acquitted of murder charges, was present at Sunday's rally. | The family of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Florida neighbourhood watch organiser who was later acquitted of murder charges, was present at Sunday's rally. |
"We're going to stand tall with you all,'' Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy Martin, said. | "We're going to stand tall with you all,'' Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy Martin, said. |