The Rev. Al Sharpton on Monday issued a powerful call for transparency and the release of body camera footage at the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr after he was shot and killed by deputies in North Carolina.
Relatives of other black men killed by law enforcement officers, including siblings of George Floyd, Eric Garner's mother and Daunte Wright's sister also spoke at the service.
A judge ruled last week that the video would not be released for another month pending a state investigation into the April 21 shooting of Brown, 42, by deputies attempting to serve drug-related search and arrest warrants.
An independent autopsy commissioned by his family said Brown was shot five times, including once in the back of the head. The shooting sparked days of protests in Elizabeth City.
'I know a con game when I see it. Release the whole tape and let the folks see what happened to Andrew Brown,' civil rights leader Sharpton told mourners in a eulogy at the invitation-only church service.
'You don´t need time to get a tape out. Put it out. Let the world see what there is to see. If you´ve got nothing to hide, then what are you hiding?' he said, to loud applause.
Bridgett Floyd described the 'sleepless nights, long days, heartache and pain' that she knows Brown's family is facing, having experienced the killing of her brother by a police officer in Minnesota who was later convicted of murder.
After Brown's funeral, she told reporters it was important for her to come to North Carolina to show support for his family. 'I'm showing them strength right now. If I can do it, they can do it,' she said.
Other speakers included Brown's sons as well as civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Brown´s family.
Khalil Ferebee, the son of Andrew Brown Jr., and other family members walk behind a horse-drawn carriage carrying his father's casket to the funeral in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on Monday
Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday. Sharpton issued a powerful call for transparency and the release of body camera footage, telling mourners: 'I know a con game when I see it'
Andrew Brown Jr.'s son Khalil Ferebee, speaks during the funeral for his father. A judge ruled last week that the video would not be released for another month pending a state investigation into the April 21 shooting of Brown, 42, by deputies attempting to serve drug-related search and arrest warrants
Solidarity: Ben Crump (left in a black suit and purple tie), Monica Wright (sister of Daunte Wright), Bridgette Floyd (sister of George Floyd), Tenicka Shannon (mother of Frederick Cox), Gwen Carr (mother of Eric Garner) and Terrence Floyd (brother of George Floyd) - whose family members have all been killed by police - attended Andrew Brown Jr.'s funeral in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Family members react during the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday at Fountain of Life Church in Elizabeth City, N.C. Brown was fatally shot by Pasquotank County Sheriff deputies trying to serve a search warrant
Hundreds of supporters of Andrew Brown Jr.'s family had filed past his open casket on Sunday a day before his funeral, and went on to hold a peaceful protest calling for police to release the bodycam footage of his death
Mourners had gathered on Sunday, the day before his funeral, as his body was displayed at two locations in the city
Judge Jeffrey Foster denied a media petition to release the footage publicly for at least 30 days, saying it might impede the ongoing investigation. Since Brown's death on April 21, the city of Elizabeth City was rocked by nearly two weeks of consecutive protests calling for greater transparency from law enforcement
Khalil Ferebee, the son of Andrew Brown Jr., hugs a family member before helping to load his father's casket into a horse-drawn carriage for a funeral procession in Elizabeth City
Mourners attend the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday, May 3, 2021 at Fountain of Life Church in Elizabeth City
Two mourners wear shirts and masks depicting Andrew Brown Jr. before the start of his funeral procession in Elizabeth City
Khalil Ferebee, left, and Jha'rod Ferebee release doves after the funeral of their father Andrew Brown Jr
Lawyers for the Brown family said they have 'great faith' in the FBI investigation. They also called separate footage taken by a neighbor of the moment a large group of cops surrounded Brown Jr.'s car 'an inflamed modern-day lynch mob'
Khalil Ferebee, Brown's son, spoke of his love of his father, adding 'it's a terrible way we had to be together like this...'.
'Everybody keep their hands up and keep God in your prayers because he gonna work all this out for us,' Ferebee said.
'It's a terrible way we had to be together like this but seeing everybody, I'm glad we together like this right now. He would have loved this. I just wish he was here with us. As much as I'm gonna wish and wish and wish all day, it's not gonna happen.'
Calling Brown's death an 'unjustifiable, reckless shooting,' Crump told mourners the legal team would continue fighting for justice and transparency.
'We are here to make this plea for justice because Andrew was killed unjustifiably, as many black men in America have been killed: shot in the back,' Crump said.
He added: 'Shot, going away from the police. And because Andrew cannot make the plea for justice, it is up to us to make the plea for justice.'
A long line of mourners filed into the church, many wearing white T-shirts with Brown´s image and the words, 'Say his name.'
In the lobby, a wreath of red and white flowers with a ribbon bearing the message, 'Rest in Peace Drew,' referring to Brown´s nickname, stood next to a tapestry with images of him.
Mourners leave after the Andrew Brown Jr. funeral at the Fountain of Life church on Monday
Rev. Al Sharpton stands with Khalil Ferebee and Jha'rod Ferebee as doves are released after the funeral of their father Andrew Brown Jr.
Rev. Al Sharpton (C) leads a closing prayer as he stands with Khalil Ferebee (L) and Jha'rod Ferebee (R) during the funeral of their father Andrew Brown Jr
Khalil Ferebee and Jha'rod Ferebee leave at the end of the funeral for their father. Brown was shot to death by Pasquotank County Sheriff's deputies on April 21
Attorney Ben Crump, center, speaks during the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday. Calling Brown's death an 'unjustifiable, reckless shooting,' Crump told mourners the legal team would continue fighting for justice and transparency
Mourners attend the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday. An independent autopsy commissioned by his family said Brown was shot five times, including once in the back of the head
The Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy; other speakers included Brown's relatives as well as civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who´s representing Brown´s family, and the Rev. William Barber II, leader of the Poor People's campaign
The family members of Andrew Brown Jr., Al Sharpton and others take part of the funeral of the 42-year-old slain Andrew Brown Terrell Green, a cousin of Brown's, came to pay his respects on Sunday morning. Green told The News & Observer he was with Brown on the night that he died. 'I just feel like they're trying to hide something,' Green said. 'We just want the truth'
Bridgett Floyd, the sister of George Floyd, speaks during a funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday
As the service started, an ensemble sang songs of praise including, 'You're the Lifter,' while some mourners stood and clapped.
Family members have said that Brown was a proud father of seven, who was known for entertaining relatives with his stories and jokes.
The FBI has launched a civil rights probe of the shooting, while state agents are conducting a separate investigation. Three deputies who were involved remain on leave.
North Carolina's Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, has called for swift release of the footage, which must be approved by a judge under state law.
The search and arrest warrants accused Brown of possessing small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine that he intended to sell. Brown had a criminal history dating back to the 1990s, including past drug convictions.
A prosecutor has said that Brown's car ran into the deputies before they opened fire, while a family attorney who watched a 20-second clip of body camera footage disagreed, saying that Brown posed no threat. The sheriff has said his deputies weren't injured.
During his eulogy, Sharpton slammed the notion that Brown´s past record or actions on the day of the shooting justified violence against him.
'Whatever record Andrew had, Andrew didn´t hurt nobody,' he said, adding: 'How do you try and justify shooting a man that was not a threat to you, because he was running away from you?'
Brown's family asked Sharpton to deliver the eulogy because they felt the civil rights leader would properly honor his legacy
Brown's death occurred a day after former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd
Relatives of other Black men killed by law enforcement officers, including siblings of George Floyd, Eric Garner's mother and Daunte Wright's sister also spoke at the service
Bridgett Floyd described the 'sleepless nights, long days, heartache and pain' that she knows Brown's family is facing, having experienced the killing of her brother by a police officer in Minnesota who was later convicted of murder
Sharpton recently delivered the eulogy for Daunte Wright, who was shot and killed by a police officer in Minnesota.
The casket of Andrew Brown Jr. is loaded by pallbearers into a horse-drawn carriage at the start of his funeral procession in Elizabeth City
The shooting sparked days of protests in the city in rural northeastern North Carolina. The funeral took place Monday
Rev. William Barber II speaks during the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday. Family members have said that Brown was a proud father of seven, who was known for entertaining relatives with his stories and jokes
Mourners attend the funeral for Brown Jr., Monday. The FBI has launched a civil rights probe of the shooting, while state agents are conducting a separate investigation. Three deputies who were involved remain on leave
Among the mourners at the service was 40-year-old Davy Armstrong, who said he went to high school with Brown and lived near him while the two were growing up. He said Brown seemed to be doing well when he ran into him recently before the shooting.
'He was very humble, very generous. He said he was doing good,' said Armstrong, who works in construction. 'We hear about this on TV all the time. But when it´s someone so well known and so respected, it´s pretty painful.'
After the funeral, 67-year-old Michael Harrell, who lives around the corner from Brown´s house, recalled that he would see Brown playing with his kids in the yard.
'Everything is in God´s hands,' Harrell said of the message he took away from the funeral. 'And through God´s hands, truth and justice will be served. People will be held accountable.'
The casket of Andrew Brown Jr., arrives for his funeral, Monday. The state´s Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, has called for swift release of the footage, which must be approved by a judge under state law
During his eulogy, Sharpton slammed the notion that Brown´s past record or actions on the day of the shooting justified violence against him. 'Whatever record Andrew had, Andrew didn´t hurt nobody,' he said, adding: 'How do you try and justify shooting a man that was not a threat to you, because he was running away from you?'
Mourners attend the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday. Among the mourners at the service was 40-year-old Davy Armstrong, who said he went to high school with Brown and lived near him while the two were growing up. He said Brown seemed to be doing well when he ran into him recently before the shooting. 'He was very humble, very generous'
Rev. William Barber II, left and Rev. Al Sharpton arrive for the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr.
People arrive for the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday. After the funeral, Michael Harrell, who lives around the corner from Brown´s house, recalled that he would see Brown playing with his kids in the yard. 'Everything is in God´s hands,' Harrell said of the message he took away from the funeral. 'And through God´s hands, truth and justice will be served'
A mourner attends the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr., Monday. A long line of mourners filed into the church, many wearing white T-shirts with Brown´s image and the words, 'Say his name'
Andrew Brown Jr.'s son Jha'rod Ferebee, speaks during the funeral for his father. In the lobby, a wreath of red and white flowers with a ribbon bearing the message, 'Rest in Peace Drew,' referring to Brown´s nickname, stood next to a tapestry with images of him
The casket of Andrew Brown Jr., is moved after his funeral, Monday. As the service started, an ensemble sang songs of praise including, 'You're the Lifter,' while some mourners stood and clapped
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