Hundreds mourn a death that ‘woke up the nation’
Stephon Clark honored in emotional service
SACRAMENTO – Civil rights activist Al Sharpton, addressing the emotionally wrenching funeral for an unarmed black man killed by police, derided the White House on Thursday for dismissing the killing as a “local matter” and said Stephon Clark’s death would force the nation to confront police violence.
Sharpton gave the eulogy for Clark, 22, to the overflowing Bayside of South Sacramento Church as he held tightly to Stephon’s distraught brother, Stevante, who frequently grabbed the microphone.
The funeral came after 10 days of protests and community anger over the killing of Clark, who was was shot March 18 by two police officers responding to a report of someone breaking a car window. The officers said they thought Clark, who had just entered his grandparents’ backyard, was holding a gun, but he was found only with a cellphone.
In his brief remarks, Sharpton noted that White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, when asked Wednesday why President Trump had not addressed the shooting, had referred to Clark’s killing as a “local matter.”
“This is not a local matter,” Sharpton shouted. “They have been killing young black men all over the country, and we are here to say that we are going to stand with Stephon Clark and his family.”
Sharpton told mourners that Clark “woke up the nation.”
In the church, which held about 400 people, mourners embraced one another and wiped away tears in front of Clark’s closed wooden casket topped with a red and green floral display.
A red ribbon, referring to Clark’s nickname, read “We Love You Big Poppa.” A white heart floral display featured a red ribbon with the words “Rest in Power,” and another said “#Stephon Clark.”
At the family’s request, the media were asked to not enter the church. Outside, nearly a dozen media trucks lined the street. Hundreds of people who were unable to get into the church kept a vigil outside.
Cecile Thompson, whose four children were with her outside the church, said Clark’s killing was especially pain- ful for any mother.
“No mother should have to go through this and lose their children this type of way,” Thompson said. “This is horrific, this is violence, and all mothers need to get up and stand for peace and love because our children should not be dying like this.”
As the service began, one pastor asked those gathered to loud applause: “Is anybody grateful that Stephon lived? Is anybody grateful that he was a man of honor?”
Some mourners called for police to face criminal charges or donned black shirts calling for justice.
The killing has sparked more than a week of anger and mostly non-violent protests, including disrupting traffic and blocking access to two pro basketball games.
Activist Steven Ash held up a photo of Clark as he pledged this time would be different.
“They want us to react out of years of suppression, years of frustration and they want us to loot, they want us to fight each other,” he said. “They want us to act ignorant.
“But we ain’t doing that one time. We’re acting smart, we’re coming together, we’re building, we’re making them feel our hurt.”
Standing outside the church after Clark’s funeral, former Sacramento Kings player Matt Barnes said he wanted to help unite the community and hold those in power accountable. He said he helped pick up some of the financial burden from the funeral.
“I helped with everything, but really I’m here for support and I’m here as a father,” he said. “I’m here as a black man tired of seeing this.”
As the funeral ended, chants of “Stephon Clark” roared to life.
“No mother should have to go through this. ... Our children should not be dying like this.”
Mourner Cecile Thompson