Duante Wright, a black man who was fatally shot by a police officer during a routine traffic stop, has been laid to rest at Lakewood Cemet...
Duante Wright, a black man who was fatally shot by a police officer during a routine traffic stop, has been laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery, in Minneapolis, Minnesota following an emotional funeral on Thursday at which his mother spoke of her son's 'million dollar smile'.
Wright, 20, was shot dead by a white police officer in a Minneapolis suburb two weeks ago after she grabbed her gun instead of a Taser.
Duante's mother, Katie, who stood alongside her husband, Aubrey, bravely spoke to hundreds of mourners from the podium before the grief became too much for her to continue.
'I never imagined I'd be standing here,' Wright said. 'My son had a smile that was worth a million dollars. He was loved by so many,' Wright said. 'When he walked in the room, he lit up the room.'
'My son should be burying me,' she said as husband, Aubrey, did his best to comfort her at the pulpit.
Later the Reverend Al Sharpton described Wright, not 'just as some kid with an air freshener,' but a 'prince' whose life ended too soon at the hands of police.
The casket of Daunte Wright is escorted out of the chapel during a funeral held for him at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, a black man who was fatally shot by a police officer after a routine traffic stop, arrives at Lakewood Cemetery, in Minneapolis
A woman holds a Black Lives Matter flag during the funeral service of Daunte Wright outside the Shiloh Temple
The hearse transporting the body of Daunte Wright arrives at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota
The casket is pictured being escorted to the hearse during at the conclusion of the funeral held for Daunte Wright
The casket is placed into a hearse at the conclusion of Duante's funeral
A member of the Minnesota freedom fighters guards the vehicle transporting the body of Daunte Wright
A man holds a dove that was to be released during the funeral that took place on Thursday afternoon
A local resident looks at the vehicle transporting the body of Daunte Wright to his final resting place
The casket is escorted to the hearse during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
The hearse carrying the body of Daunte Wright leaves the Shiloh Temple International Ministries following the funeral service
Earlier, hundreds of people wearing masks packed into Shiloh Temple International Ministries to remember Wright. His one-year-old son was among those present at the emotional ceremony.
The funeral was held just two days after former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in the death of George Floyd and amid a national reckoning on racism and policing.
'The absence of justice is the absence of peace,' Sharpton said. 'You can´t tell us to shut up and suffer. We must speak up when there is an injustice.'
Friends and family members wept as they stood before Wright's casket, which was blanketed with red roses.
Outside, member of the Minnesota Freedom Fighters, many with assault-style rifles, sidearms and wearing body armor, provided security for the service.
Father Aubrey Wright (L) and mother Katie Wright (2L) paid tribute to their son alongside sister Diamond Wright (R) and Rev Al Sharpton during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, hold her head in her hands as she breaks down in tears
Katie and Aubrey Wright, parents of Daunte Wright, cry as the speak during funeral services of Daunte Wright
'My son should be burying me' said Daunte Wright, Katie Wright
Rev. Al Sharpton, is followed by Katie and Aubrey Wright, the parents of Daunte Wright. The 20-year-old was fatally shot by a Brooklyn Center, Minnesota police officer during a traffic stop
Rev. Al Sharpton (R) walks with Wright's mother Katie Wright as Attorney Ben Crump, second from left, walks with Angie Golson during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries on Thursday in Minneapolis
Daunte Wright Jr(R), the son of Daunte Wright arrives at the Shiloh Temple International Ministries before his father's funeral
Katie Wright, mother of Daunte Wright, enters for the funeral services of her son Daunte at Shiloh Temple in Minneapolis
Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, a black man who was fatally shot by a police officer after a routine traffic stop
Brandon Williams, nephew of George Floyd, displays the program for the funeral services of Daunte Wright
A close up view of the program that mourners were following on Thursday afternoon
The service began with gospel music including trumpeter Keyon Harrold who played a rendition of 'Amazing Grace' and 'Lift Ev´ry Voice and Sing,' often referred to as the black national anthem.
Funeral attendees were brought to their feet as artist Ange Hillz painted Wright´s portrait with white paint on black canvas at the service. Hillz created similar portraits of George Floyd at his funeral and of Breonna Taylor.
During a silent reading of Wright´s obituary, some could be heard crying.
Leading civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, who is representing the family of Daunte Wright, led a call and response during the funeral.
'Daunte Wright's life mattered' he got the crowd to respond.
Crump called on national leaders including president Biden to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
He said the legacy of passing the police reform bill 'would live forever, for our children and our children's children.'
'At some point Daunte Jr. is going to get old enough to watch that video of how his father was slain so unnecessarily. A misdemeanor, a misdemeanor,' Crump said in disbelief.
'It's too often the traffic stops end up as deadly sentences, a death sentence. We´re going to have to make sure that Daunte Jr. know that we stood up for Daunte, his father.'
Crump went onto acknowledge the family of George Floyd who were also present among the mourners.
'If we don't fight for our children, we can't expect nobody else to fight for our children like us,' he said. 'We have to fight for our children until hell freezes over, and then we have to be prepared to fight on the ice.'
Katie and Aubrey Wright, parents of Daunte Wright, cry during funeral services of their son Daunte Wright
Katie and Aubrey Wright, parents of Daunte Wright, applaud during the funeral services of their son
Attorney Benjamin L. Crump speaks during funeral services of Daunte Wright
Leading civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, who is representing the family of Daunte Wright, led a call and response during the funeral
Members of the choir sing during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
People arrive during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
People pray during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
The program for the funeral services of Daunte Wright is held by a mourner
American attorney Benjamin Crump and governor of Minnesota Tim Walz with musician Keyon Harrold and artist Ange Hillz
Artist Ange Hillz makes a painting of Daunte Wright during his funeral
Attorney Ben Crump, left, raises his fist as Keyon Harrold plays the trumpet during a funeral held for Daunte Wright
Daunte Wright's mother Katie Wright is pictured during the funeral service for her son
Mourners applaud during funeral services of Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis
'Thank you for not letting the legacy of George Floyd end with that video', Crump told the assembled mourners, as he referred to the video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes.
Daunte Wright´s mother, Katie Wright, said his fatal shooting changed both their lives. Speaking through tears she said: 'The roles should be completely reversed. My son should be burying me.'
Wright buried her face in her hands and Daunte´s father, Aubrey, briefly took the microphone.
When he passed it back, Katie Wright recalled how her son became father to a boy born prematurely, describing his happiness and pride.
She says: 'Junior was the joy of his life. He lived for him every single day.'
Duarte's sister, Monica, also spoke to the congregation. 'I didn't get to spend enough time with him. He didn't deserve this. He was so loved by everybody,' she said.
His aunt, Naisha Wright, wrote a tribute on a prayer card handed out to attendees, recalling how she playfully nicknamed Daunte 'lemon head' and how he would smile.
Wright was a talented basketball player and he particularly loved the Fourth of July, when he would celebrate with his family by lighting fireworks, the card read.
Katie and Aubrey Wright, parents of Daunte Wright, cried as they spoke during funeral service
'I didn't get to spend enough time with him. He didn't deserve this. He was so loved by everybody,' sister, Monica Wright said
'I spent a lot of time with man. Every holiday is not going to be the same without him. He was the life of the party,' brother Dallas wright said
A mourner looks over the family photos in the program during funeral services of Daunte Wright
Katie Wright, mother of Daunte Wright, walks past his casket her son's casket as she leaves the stage during the funeral
Father Aubrey Wright (L) and mother Katie Wright are presented a frame containing a state proclamation by Governor Tim Walz (R) and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during a funeral held for Daunte Wright
Katie Wright wipes away a tear as she stand next to her husband Aubrey Wright after receiving a flag from Rep. Ilhan Omar that was flown over the U.S. Capitol
Erica Whitaker, carries her grandson Daunte Wright Jr., into the funeral services of his father Daunte Wright
One of Duarte's three older brothers, Dallas, also took to the podium to speak about his sibling.
'I spent a lot of time with man. Every holiday is not going to be the same without him. He was the life of the party,' Dallas said.
'His laugh was contagious. I am going to miss this man so much. He was my best friend, through thick and thin. I was proud of the man he was becoming.'
The Rev. Al Sharpton called Duarte 'the prince of Brooklyn Center.'
Wright´s mother says he called her just before he was shot, telling her he had been pulled over for having an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror, which is a traffic violation in Minnesota.
Sharpton referred to the allegation in his eulogy.
'We've come from all over the country because you hurt one of our princes. You thought he was just some kid with air freshener. But he was a prince. All of Minneapolis has stopped today to honor the prince of Brooklyn Center,' Sharpton said.
'God has turned the page in the state of Minnesota, and we are never going back no more,' Sharpton said, referring to the milestone verdict delivered against former police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty of murdering George Floyd this week.
'The time has come for police to understand that they're not above the law, they're to enforce the law,' he said.
Sharpton went on to criticize the police officer who used a shotgun instead of Taser when she shot Duarte.
'Train people. Don't confuse guns with Tasers. Don't put knees on people necks for nine minute and 29 seconds. Train people don't shoot 41 times. Train people! Don't shoot at a young boys,'
'People always ask me 'Why don't you tell people to stop being violent?' To which I respond, 'When are you going to tell police to stop being violence?' Sharpton said.
'The reason Duarte was stopped was because his tags has expired. Well, I have a message for you. Your tags of brutality of have expired. Your tags of white supremacy have expired. Your tags of looking at us differently than everyone else have expired,' Sharpton said in a poignant yet sharp eulogy.
The congregation clapped and shouted in enthusiasm as the civil rights leader's thundering remarks included a stinging rebuke of the possibility that Wright was pulled over for having air fresheners dangling from his mirror.
'We come today as the air fresheners for Minnesota. We're trying to get the stench of police brutality out of the atmosphere. We're trying to get the stench of racism out of the atmosphere. We're trying to get the stench of racial profiling out of the atmosphere,' he said. 'Your air is too odorous for us to breathe. We can't breathe in your stinking air no more!
Rev. Al Sharpton made an impassioned plea for justice and an end to racism towards black people
Sharpton went on to criticize the police officer who used a shotgun instead of Taser when she shot Duarte
'Train people. Don't confuse guns with Tasers. Don't put knees on people necks for nine minute and 29 seconds. Train people don't shoot 41 times. Train people! Don't shoot at a young boys,' Sharpton said
'People always ask me 'Why don't you tell people to stop being violent?' To which I respond, 'When are you going to tell police to stop being violence?' Sharpton said
Father Aubrey Wright(R) and mother Katie Wright step away from the podium after giving remarks during a funeral held for their son
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. made remarks during the funeral service
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. hugs Katie Wright after presenting a flag to the Katie and Aubrey Wright, parents of Daunte
US senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar delivered closing remarks at the funeral She said the fight for racial justice was bigger than the recent guilty murder conviction for Derek Chauvin
'We cannot confuse accountability for justice,' Klobuchar said. 'True justice is not done as long as having expired tags mean losing your life during a traffic stop.'
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., left, and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. are pictured together at the funeral
Also among those attending Wright's funeral were Valerie Castile, whose son Philando Castile died after being shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb in 2016.
Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who was filmed saying 'I can't breathe' in a fatal 2014 encounter with New York City police. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also attended.
Sharpton acknowledged each of them during the eulogy.
'I don't care how much settlement they may be given, you can never fill the hole in their heart that was caused for no reason,' he said.
Also attending were the families of Oscar Grant, killed in 2009 by a California transit officer who mistook his service weapon for a stun gun, similar to the Wright case, and of Emmett Till, the teenager whose 1955 lynching in Mississippi helped spark the civil rights movement, as well as the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, who was shot by white Louisville, Kentucky, officers in March 2020 as they served a warrant.
Governor Walz quickly condemned the shooting as an example of racism in his state and in the country.
'We know that this tragedy is connected to the deep and systemic racism in our society that black people in Minnesota and across this country face every single day,' he said in his remarks.
US senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar delivered closing remarks. She said the fight for racial justice was bigger than the recent guilty murder conviction for Derek Chauvin.
'We cannot confuse accountability for justice,' she said. 'True justice is not done as long as having expired tags mean losing your life during a traffic stop.
'True justice is not done as long as a chokehold, the knee on the neck or a no-knock warrant is considered legitimate policing. This is the urgent task before us. Racism in this country is not isolated, it is systemic.'
An obituary handed out at the memorial recalled Wright's love of Fourth of July fireworks, the 'lemon head' nickname bestowed by an aunt and the months he spent in a hospital intensive care unit when his son was born prematurely.
The city's police chief said it appeared from body camera video that the officer who shot Wright used her pistol when she meant to use her Taser.
The white officer, 26-year veteran Kim Potter, is charged with second-degree manslaughter. Both she and the chief resigned soon after the shooting.
Potter has not entered a plea and her lawyer, Earl Gray, has not commented about the case.
Police video of the shooting in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, shows multiple officers attempting to arrest Wright for an outstanding warrant during a routine traffic stop.
Potter threatened to stun Wright with her Taser before firing her handgun. A few moments later, she can be heard exclaiming that she shot him. Before he resigned, the city's police chief Tim Gannon said Potter mistakenly used her gun instead of her Taser.
Wright's killing came amid increasing tension during the weeks long trial of Derek Chauvin, the white former police officer who killed Floyd last May.
The casket is escorted out following a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
The casket was covered with a blanket that depicted Wright's face
The coffin was wheeled out of the northern Minneapolis church and loaded into a hearse
Duarte's Mother Katie Wright is escorted out by Rev. Al Sharpton following a funeral held for her son
People carry the coffin with the body of Daunte Wright insider. It was loaded into the back of a hearse before being taken to a cemetery
Damik Bryant touches the casket of his brother Daunte Wright as its wheeled out following funeral services
A member of the Minnesota Freedom Fighters provide security outside Shiloh Temple International Ministries following the funeral service
A member of Minnesota Freedom Fighters secures the area during the funeral for Daunte Wright
Rev. Al Sharpton holds the hand of Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright
The mourners included some children who were brought into the service
MPeople embrace during the funeral held for Daunte Wright
The hearse caring the body of Daunte Wright arrives for funeral services at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, on Thursday
The parents of Daunte Wright, including his mother, Katie, seen in center, walks alongside Rev. Al Sharpton as they walk inside for the funeral
Reverend Al Sharpton is expected to deliver the eulogy. He is pictured here walking inside to the service
Lawyer Benjamin Crump hugs Katie Wright, mother of Daunte Wright
A program for the funeral service described Daunte Wright as an 'adored brother and role model' who was known for his sense of humor and love of sports.
Wright was known as 'lemon-head' to members of his family, and loved celebrating the Fourth of July with them, according to the program.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page for Daunte Wright's family has raised nearly $1 million since earlier this month.
Funds from the effort will go to 'covering funeral and burial expenses, mental health and grief counseling for Daunte's family, to help the Wright family in their fight for justice, and to provide support for family,' according to the page.
Al Sharpton is pictured center as the guests walk into the funeral of Daunte Wright
Daunte Wright's casket is removed from the hearse for funeral services behind an escort of the Minnesota Freedom Fighters at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis
Members of Minnesota Freedom Fighters gather around the hearse carrying Daunte Wright's casket at Shiloh Temple
A man carrying a rifle stands next to a hearse during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
Emajay Driver, right, pays respects during a wake for Daunte Wright in Minneapolis, pictured on Wednesday
Wright is pictured with his son. He had been pulled over in a traffic stop for 'expired license plate tags'
Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by a white police officer on April 11 in Brooklyn Center
By the day of the verdict, more than 3,000 National Guard soldiers had flooded the area, along with police, state troopers and other law enforcement officers. Concrete barriers, chain-link fences and barbed wire ringed the courthouse where Chauvin was tried.
Minneapolis residents who peacefully celebrated Tuesday's guilty verdicts had barely one full day before attention turned to burying Wright.
More than a dozen men from the Minnesota Freedom Fighters, many with assault-style rifles, sidearms and wearing body armor, provided security for the service.
The group, which is a self-described elite security unit, was set up last summer during protests that followed the death of unarmed Black man George Floyd.
The men´s patches identify them as members of the group which formed last year to provide security in Minneapolis´ largely black north side neighborhoods.
The casket of Daunte Wright in placed at the start of funeral services at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis
Rev. Al Sharpton (L) and Wright's brother Damik Bryant arrive for the funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
Courteney Ross, center, girlfriend of George Floyd, arrives for the funeral services of Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple
Angie Golson, second from right, arrives during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries on in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Valerie Castile, mother of Philando Castile arrives during a funeral held for Daunte Wright
Mourners hug before the funeral services of Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis
Family and friends arrive during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at the Shiloh Temple
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott speaks with mourners before funeral service
Family images play on a screen before funeral services for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis
A person stands next to the casket during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
Katie Wright, mother of Daunte Wright, leans over to kiss him during his visitation in Minneapolis
The casket of Daunte Wright rests in place before funeral services at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis
The Rev. Al Sharpton, the civil rights leader, will deliver the eulogy. At Floyd's Minneapolis funeral last year, Sharpton put Floyd's death in the context of brutality long felt by Blacks in America, saying: 'The reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed to be is you kept your knee on our neck.'
'What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country,' Sharpton said back then. 'It´s time for us to stand up in George´s name and say, `Get your knee off our neck!´'
Sharpton said he would first pay tribute to Wright, 'a young man just at the beginning of life, full of life.'
He said he will also use his remarks to remind those in attendance, or watching from afar, that the fight for justice didn't end with the Chauvin verdict.
'We should not think that, because we won one battle with Chauvin, the war is over,' Sharpton said, 'or that if we do not get justice for this case, that we will undo what we were able to do with George Floyd. This is round two, and we must win this round.'
Members of Wright´s family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Floyd´s family, are also expected to speak at the service. Some of Floyd´s relatives are expected to attend.
Rev. Al Sharpton and Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump pay their respects for Daunte Wright
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) (2R) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrive during the funeral held for Daunte Wright
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speak during a funeral held for Daunte Wright
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot (C) arrives during a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., left, speaks with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz before the funeral service begins
Mourners pay their respects for Daunte Wright, a Black man who was fatally shot by a police officer after a routine traffic stop
A painting is seen of Daunte Wright in front of the Shiloh Temple International Ministries before his funeral in Minneapolis
People pass a memorial for Daunte Wright on the day of his funeral on Thursday in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
A makeshift memorial is seen Thursday in Brooklyn Center near the site of the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by police
A memorial is seen in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota as part of a tribute to Daunte Wright
A chalkboard is seen near a makeshift memorial on Thursday close to where the shooting took place
Katie Wright, mother of Daunte Wright, hugs Daunte's brother Damik Bryant during a visitation, Wednesday, April 21, 2021, in Minneapolis. Daunte Wright was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wright´s killing set off protests in Brooklyn Center, a working-class, majority nonwhite city, with hundreds of people gathering every night for a week outside the city's heavily guarded police station.
While the mayor called for law enforcement and protesters to scale back their tactics, the nights often ended with demonstrators lobbing water bottles and rocks at the officers, and law enforcement responding with pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets.
Wright was pulled over on a Sunday afternoon. His mother said he called her to say he was stopped for having air fresheners hanging from his rear-view mirror - a traffic violation in Minnesota. Police said he was stopped for having an expired car registration.
The shooting occurred when a scuffle broke out as police tried to arrest Wright, after realizing he had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court on charges of fleeing police and having a gun without a permit.
Wright was fatally shot by Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter who resigned after the incident and has been charged with second-degree manslaughter
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