From reports thousands of mourners filled the massive Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis for the funeral, which began with upbeat music punctuated by clapping. Some mourners danced in place, and ushers passed out water and tissues.
The Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at the funeral and reflected the frustration many feel over Brown's death.
"No community in America would tolerate an 18-year-old laying in the streets," Sharpton said. "The value of this boy's life needs to be answered by somebody."
The church's sanctuary, which seats about 2,500, filled quickly. Overflow rooms holding another 2,000 were full, too.
With the church at capacity, many people could not get in and instead waited outside, crowded into shady areas on a day when the temperature was expected to come close to 100 degrees. Ambulance crews were on hand in case of any heat-related illnesses.
Poster-size photos of Brown, wearing headphones, were on each side of the closed casket, which had a St. Louis Cardinals ball cap atop it. Large projection screens showed a photo of Brown clutching his high school diploma while wearing his cap and gown. He had been scheduled to start training at a technical school two days after his death. He wanted to become a heating and air-conditioning technician.
President Barack Obama sent three White House aides. Others in attendance included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, moviemaker Spike Lee and entertainer Sean Combs, as well as many local and regional civil rights leaders.
"IYANLA: FIX MY LIFE SPECIAL REPORT: HEALING IN FERGUSON" aired Tuesday on OWN
The special episode follows Iyanla Vanzant as she worked with the Ferguson, Missouri community to promote peace and healing.
She embedded herself in the local community and works to empower citizens by helping them formulate a plan for peace and healing in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown.
Iyanla visited the protest area Aug 20 and memorial, spending hours reaching out to individuals affected by the tragic event to hear their stories and empowering them with ways to move past their anger.
She brought face-to-face Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson and Michael Brown's uncle, pastor Charles Ewing (PICTURED), and together they discuss the need for peace in order to give the system time to work. Not stopping there, Iyanla hosted a community discussion with leaders and citizens; sat down in a church minutes from the shooting site with a group of young men, many of whom profess to be gang members; and made her way at 1 a.m. with community leader and "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" Tim Norman past National Guard checkpoints and police, to join a peaceful protest.
Later, as a first healing step, Iyanla, surrounded by citizens and community leaders, encouraged everyone to choose peace.
“My heart hurts for the family of Michael Brown and the
citizens of Ferguson,” said Vanzant. “In the wake of this
tragic death, it is my responsibility as a mother,
grandmother and teacher to show my support and to offer
the community a chance to share its story with the nation. In
addition, I hope to provide a set of tools to begin the healing
process while also promoting peaceful change."
Lets hope if her influence will help heal the city.
Oscar winners Springfield, Mo native Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were married by a US judge on Saturday in a small chapel at Chateau Miraval, in the picturesque village of Correns, a spokeswoman for the Tinseltown royal couple said.
George Clooney was among the celebrity friends to congratulate them. "I'm really happy for Brad and Angie and their whole family," said the 53-year-old veteran bachelor, who announced his own engagement in April.
Jolie was walked down the aisle by her eldest sons Maddox and Pax. Daughters Zahara and Vivienne threw petals, while the couple's other two children, Shiloh and Knox, were the ring bearers.
"It was very much a family affair," the spokeswoman said in a statement.
Pitt, 50, and Jolie, 39, obtained a marriage license in California from a local US judge who traveled to France to conduct the wedding, which was described as a "non-denominational civil ceremony.
Pitt was photographed Thursday wearing a gold band on his left ring finger during an event in Britain to promote his new World War II film "Fury," in which he plays a battle-hardened army sergeant.
He and Jolie fell in love on the set of 2005 action film "Mr & Mrs Smith"
Will Michael Sam be drafted from The Rams? If Saturdays preseason game on Saturday night at Edward Jones Dome against Cleveland Browns is any indication it looks promising. Sam twice sacked Johnny Manziel, the Cleveland Browns'quarterback during that game. He punctuated his first sack of the night with Manziel's signature money sign celebration.
Sam will find out soon if he makes the Rams' 53-man roster for the regular season which begins Sept 4.
UPDATE: On Saturday, The St. Louis Rams cut Michael Sam. He still can be picked up by another team or make the Rams' practice squad.
The Rams selected the SEC co-defensive player of the year at Missouri with the 249th overall pick out of 256 overall during May's draft. Sam came out as gay following his final season at Missouri.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher was proud to have made the landmark pick, but he made clear from the start that he chose Sam because he thought he had the talent to make it.
The reason for his cut reportedly wasn't Michael Sam's sexual orientation or any attendant "distractions" that led to his release from the St. Louis Rams — it was the efforts of an undrafted teammate from a Division II school that pushed Sam out of the Rams' defensive line rotation, regarded by many as the deepest in the NFL.
Sam said after the Miami game this week that he's confident he'll make an NFL roster somewhere, and he's got the look of an NFL player who may just have to start as a backup or on the practice squad. But there's a place for him in the NFL, and he'll eventually find it.
EVEN WITH THE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY HE WAS CUT, YOU ALL KNOW MOST PEOPLE WILL THINK IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE
DISTRACTION. BUT WE WILL SEE HOW MEDIA PERSONALITIES WILL COMMENT ON THIS.
UPDATE: Sam was drafted Tuesday Sept 2 by The Dallas Cowboys' practicing squad.
The Jackie Robinson West All-Stars earned their spot in the Little League World Series by hitting the ball around plenty of ballparks. In the Morgan Park squad's World Series opener Thursday, they showed the world how they do at the plate.
The Great Lakes Region champions beat Pacific Little League of Lynnwood, Wash., in five innings, via the mercy rule, 12-2.
The Illinois state champions racked up 13 hits, eight of them for extra bases, drew five walks and scored at least one run in each inning.
In celebration, thousands of people turned out for a rally and parade to honor the Jackie Robinson West All-Stars team
, the U.S. Little League champs.The festivities honoring JRW began with a rally at Jackie Robinson Park on South Morgan Street, then the parade began and another rally at Millennium Park.
Chrysler Group's Dodge division are currently airing funny commercials promoting the Dodge
Dart line Chicago native comedic actor Craig Robinson last seen as Maceo in
the biopic "Get On Up", is one of main ad pitchers for the automobile.
Chicago native actor Jospeh Sikora is making a name for himself in the role of Tommy, Ghost's right hand man, in Starz drama, “Power” which tells the story of James “Ghost” St. Patrick, a wealthy New York City nightclub owner who caters to the city’s elite but living a double life as a drug kingpin The eight episode series, just wrapped is first season and was renewed in June for a second season. Production is set to begin on the 10-episode second season in and around New York, as well as at its home base at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn this September.
.png)
.jpg){kind=link}