Daunte Wright family holds public viewing ahead of Thursday funeral

MINNEAPOLIS — Katie Wright leaned over and embraced her son’s physique mendacity within the casket earlier than straightening to show and step again, tears streaming down her face.

On one aspect stood the Rev. Jesse Jackson. On the opposite, the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Between them lay Daunte Wright, 20, a Black man shot dead by police in nearby Brooklyn Center on April 11. Wright’s demise ignited a brand new spherical of anger in a group nonetheless reeling from the demise of George Floyd final yr.

Wright’s demise got here amidst the homicide trial of the now-fired white police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck for greater than 9 minutes. A jury on Tuesday convicted that former officer, Derek Chauvin, of homicide costs, and the Black community in Minneapolis celebrated Tuesday night with a raucous rally exterior the courthouse. Wednesday afternoon, they renewed their mourning for Wright.

“It’s sad, man, especially right after the verdicts of the trial, that we have to go right into another moment like this,” mentioned Trahern Pollard of the Minneapolis-based anti-violence group We Push For Peace. “The reality is there’s a 20-year-old kid laying in that casket right now and it could have totally been avoided.”

‘He didn’t deserve this’:Family remembers Daunte Wright as an adoring dad who enjoyed playing sports and celebrating the Fourth of July

The officer accused of killing Wright, Kim Potter, was a 26-year veteran who police officers mentioned by accident drew her handgun as a substitute of a Taser. She and the police chief each resigned virtually instantly. Potter, who’s white, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, and is scheduled for a court docket look Thursday, the identical day as Wright’s funeral.

Wright’s family didn’t converse to reporters on the viewing.

Sharpton is ready to provide the eulogy throughout the funeral. Addressing mourners on Wednesday, Sharpton promised he and different nationwide civil rights leaders would search justice for Wright’s family, together with his 2-year-old son. He additionally mentioned Wright’s dad and mom, Katie and Aubrey, have been celebrating their wedding ceremony anniversary on Wednesday.

“You brought hate into their family and we’re going to run it out and get them justice,” he mentioned. “We’ve got to give them a wedding gift of justice.”

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