Al Sharpton, Akai Gurley: Reverend Won’t Attend Funeral For Police Shooting Victim Over Family Rift
Al Sharpton will not be attending the funeral of Akai Gurley, a man who was shot to death on the stairs of his housing project unit. TMZ is reporting today that Al Sharpton learned of the rift between the dead man’s common-law wife and his mother, causing him to pull out of the services all at once.
It was reported yesterday that Akai Gurley’s aunt, Hertenceia Peterson, spoke out because she believes Al Sharpton is taking advantage of Akai Gurley’s death for attention, money, and fame. The bottom line is that some family members think that Sharpton will turn the funeral and the case into a circus. On top of that, they feel that he is exploiting their loved one’s death, according to Opposing Views.
“Al Sharpton came in, put his name on the situation, but has not even made one single call to the parents of Akai,” the distraught woman told TMZ. She went even more in depth with the New York Post, where she criticized Sharpton for wanting to do a eulogy for someone he had never met.
“It’s been a nightmare.()He just wants to take credit for this when he’s never even contacted my sister.()Who made you the spokesperson of our family? We just want to bury our nephew with dignity and respect.()How can you do a eulogy for someone you don’t even know? It’s heartbreaking.”
Reverend Al Sharpton says nothing could be further from the truth, claiming that he was asked to get involved in the case by Kimberly Ballinger, the mother of Akai Gurley’s child. Ballinger has stated that she appreciates all of the support from Al Sharpton, and definitely wants him to come to the funeral service. Sharpton was originally supposed to give the eulogy for Akai Gurley. Here is what Ballinger stated, according to The Gothamist.
“Rev. Al Sharpton has been here for us since day one.()We want justice. I want to see an indictment.”
Despite his critics, Al Sharpton once stated many years ago that no matter what, when someone calls, he will come to support them—but he isn’t sitting around just waiting for the next place to visit next.
“I’m projected as an ambulance chaser, but I’m more the ambulance. People call me because they know I will come.… I have never fought a case where they didn’t ask me to come. People have this picture like I’m sitting up in bed at night with a walkie-talkie. “You hear anything? Oh, let’s run! It’s Virginia today!”… Every victim calls us.… “Who put Sharpton in charge?” The victim”
The Inquisitr reported yesterday that police officer Peter Liang shot and killed Akai Gurley in the stairwell more than a week ago. The community is outraged because the officer texted his rep before getting help for the dying man.
[Photo Credit: Twitter]
