Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at Daunte Wright's funeral: 'All of Minneapolis is stopped today to honor the prince of Brooklyn Center'
- Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy at Daunte Wright's funeral in Minneapolis on Thursday.
- Sharpton honored the memory of Wright, a 20-year old Black man killed by now-former Brooklyn Center Police officer Kimberly Porter.
Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy at Daunte Wright's funeral in Minneapolis on Thursday, and said, "all of Minneapolis is stopped today to honor the prince of Brooklyn center."
Sharpton honored the memory of Wright, a 20-year old Black man killed by former Brooklyn Center Police officer Kimberly Porter during a routine traffic stop.
"You can never fill the hole in their heart caused for no reason," Sharpton said about Wright's family.
"I haven't seen a funeral like this since Prince, well, we came to bury the prince of Brooklyn Center, because you hurt one of our princes," Sharpton said.
"People always ask: why don't you tell people not to be violent. We always do. When are you all gonna tell police to stop being violent?" Sharpton added, in a eulogy filled with bible references as well as past and forward-looking acknowledgments to civil rights struggles.
Sharpton also made metaphors about expired tags and air fresheners, two reasons Brooklyn Center police cited for stopping Wright.
"We come today as the air fresheners of Minnesota, to remove the stench of racism, police brutality, profiling out of the atmosphere, because your air is too odorous for us to breathe, we can't breathe in your stinking air no more," Sharpton said.
"Minnesota, your tags of racism have expired, police brutality has expired, your white supremacy has expired, it's time to renew and get tags of righteousness, fairness and treating everyone the same way," he added. He asked for Wright's brother and sister to hold his family strong and prepare for a long trial, "when the cameras are gone."
Sharpton also rallied for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and said, "A prince is on his way to his rest, take your seat Daunte."
"Tell George Floyd who you are. There's a special place in heaven for those who shed innocent blood," Sharpton added.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.