Rayshard Brooks' Private Funeral Held in Atlanta

Rayshard Brooks' family held his home going ceremony in Atlanta on Tuesday morning, which featured a speech from MLK's daughter, Rev. Bernice A. King.

rayshard brooks funeral
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Image via Getty/ ELIJAH NOUVELAGE

rayshard brooks funeral

Rayshard Brooks’ funeral was held on Tuesday morning in Atlanta, Georgia, CNN reports. 

The ceremony took place in one of the city’s most historic churches, the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a co-pastor until his 1968 assassination.

Brooks’ golden casket was carried by pallbearers who wore shirts that read “Here 2 Serve,” while the Brooks family wore white. The black and white funeral hearse featured a poster that read, “killed in Atlanta Georgia 2020.”

The scene outside Rayshard Brooks’ funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Brooks family is donning all white as they prepare to enter the church. pic.twitter.com/eCM96qFTGu

— Raisa Habersham🐾🐾🐾 (@newsworthy17) June 23, 2020

#RayshardBrooks casket carried inside Ebenezer Baptist Church for today’s funeral. pic.twitter.com/PdhyED61MH

— Darryl Forges (@Darryl_Forges) June 23, 2020

The private ceremony included a speech from MLK’s daughter, Rev. Bernice A. King, and a eulogy from Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, the church’s senior pastor and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Dr. King urged activists, organizers and "people of goodwill" to keep up the fight for racial justice.

"Don't stop until it matters that dignity, justice and equity are a reality for all Black lives." https://t.co/wWjH6Czzcvpic.twitter.com/llDFeJvwly

Dr. Bernice King spoke at Rayshard Brooks' funeral, urging activists, organizers and "people of goodwill" to keep up the fight for racial justice.

"Don't stop until it matters that dignity, justice and equity are a reality for all Black lives." https://t.co/wWjH6Czzcv pic.twitter.com/llDFeJvwly

— ABC News (@ABC) June 23, 2020

"Rayshard Brooks is the latest high-profile casualty in the struggle for justice and the battle for the soul of America"

Pastor at funeral of Rayshard Brooks says that while we "were addressing the death of George Floyd" we "found ourselves here again"https://t.co/nacspVr5Dh pic.twitter.com/U0CyZ6g33e

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) June 23, 2020

"There needs to be a better way. He didn't have to die."

The funeral for #RayshardBrooks is being held in the Atlanta church where MLK was co-pastor prior to his assassination.

Brooks was shot in the back by a police officer, who faces life in prison for felony murder. pic.twitter.com/IdCWy1DXx6

— AJ+ (@ajplus) June 23, 2020

The Kurt Carr singers performed "The Presence of the Lord Is Here," as Rayshard Brooks' widow Tomika Miller said she didn't want the funeral to end sadly "because we know where our brother is going." Brooks' casket led the recessional from Ebenezer Baptist Church. @wsbradio pic.twitter.com/fAh4HdyPQZ

— Veronica Waters (@MissVWaters) June 23, 2020

Funeral has ended. Hearse carrying Brooks’ casket is now leaving the church. #RayshardBrooks pic.twitter.com/RuYzwwVCkb

— Blayne Alexander (@ReporterBlayne) June 23, 2020

A public viewing of Brooks’ casket was held on Monday. It was previously reported that Tyler Perry paid for the funeral expenses.

Atlanta police shot Brooks in the back on June 12. Days later, on June 17, the Fulton County D.A. announced that Officer Garrett Rolfe, who fatally shot Brooks, had been charged with felony murder, as well as 10 other charges, including criminal damage to property, violations to his oath of office, and aggravated assault charges. His partner, Devin Brosnan, was hit with three charges, including aggravated assault.

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