New York Daily News

Al’s rousing shout at rite for Calif. cop-shoot vic

- BY JESSICA SCHLADEBEC­K

AN EMOTIONAL crowd filled a California church Thursday to celebrate Stephon Clark, the 22-year-old father whose police shooting death has sparked national outrage.

Stevante Clark, brother to the slain man, bent down to kiss the casket at times during the service and let the crowd in chants of his sibling’s name.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who flew to Sacramento to deliver the eulogy, urged the crowd to come together to force police reform.

“We will never let you forget the name of Stephon Clark until we get justice,” Sharpton thundered. “This is about justice. This is about standing with people with courage.”

The New York preacher said it was time to “stop this madness” of fatal shootings by police officers.

The massive turnout for Clark’s funeral delayed the ceremony for nearly an hour, with hundreds gathered at the Bayside of South Sacramento Church Thursday afternoon. Some were turned away, the building packed to capacity.

The service began with readings from both the Bible and Koran. Family members and loved ones embraced, some of them smiling and others in tears, while the church’s praise team honored Clark with a dance.

Cops said they had responded March 18 to complaints regarding a person breaking car windows when they began to pursue Clark. A pair of Sacramento police officers chased him into his grandmothe­r’s backyard, where they shot him 20 times.

Officers said they believed Clark was the suspect they’d been searching for and that he was armed.

Video of the nighttime incident released by police shows a man later identified as Clark running into the backyard where police fired 20 rounds at him after screaming “gun, gun, gun.” No weapon was found at the scene, but Clark did have a phone, which officers said they mistook for a firearm. The city of Sacramento has been steeped in heartache and unrest in the weeks after Clark’s death. Hundreds of Sacramento residents on Tuesday descended on a City Council meeting, calling for justice as they chanted Clark’s name. At one point, Stevante Clark marched to the front of the chamber and continued the chant from atop the mayor’s desk. Demonstrat­ors twice this week have also blocked scores of fans from entering a Sacramento Kings basketball game. COPS ARRESTED a Black Lives Matter protester they say threw a glass bottle at police during a Times Square demonstrat­ion. Garrett Ramirez, 42, of Sunnyside, Queens, was charged with resisting arrest and assault on a police officer for allegedly tossing the bottle during the Wednesday night protest. Ten other protesters were arrested on less serious charges. Ramirez was arraigned Thursday evening and released on $1,500 bail. He’s due back in court Wednesday. The demonstrat­ors were protesting the death of Stephon Clark at the hands of Sacramento police on March 18. Clark, 22, was shot 20 times by police who claimed they mistook his cell phone for a gun while chasing a burglary suspect. Among the others arrested Wednesday was Walter (Hawk) Newsome, 40, who sued the NYPD in November, claiming cops beat him up at a Feb. 11, 2017, protest against President Trump’s immigratio­n policies. Newsome was charged with obstructin­g government­al administra­tion Wednesday.

 ??  ?? The Rev. Al Sharpton hugs Stevante Clark at funeral for Clark’s brother, Stephon (bottom), Thursday in Sacramento, Calif. Stephon Clark, who was unarmed, was shot to death (inset, below) by Sacramento police on March 18. With News Wire Services Graham...
The Rev. Al Sharpton hugs Stevante Clark at funeral for Clark’s brother, Stephon (bottom), Thursday in Sacramento, Calif. Stephon Clark, who was unarmed, was shot to death (inset, below) by Sacramento police on March 18. With News Wire Services Graham...

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