Thousands attend Freddie Gray’s funeral

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Thousands came to pay their respects to Freddie Gray, a young man who many believed whose life was cut short prematurely and unjustly.

Freddie Gray suffered a spinal cord injury while in Baltimore police custody. Details are still grim and family demands answers as to how their loved one ended up with a spinal cord injury while in the custody of police.

Freddie Gray’s death touches the latest debate over police’s excessive use of force.

Freddie Gray’s funeral

Amongst the thousand of attendees were many who have never met Gray, but gathered at New Shiloh Baptist Church to say their farewell’s and to press for more accountability for the police officers actions.

During the service, an attorney representing Gray’s family, Billy Murphy, received a standing ovation after calling on the six officers who arrested Gray to tell the public what happened, reports the AP.

“This is our moment to get at truth. This is our moment to get it right,” Murphy said.

Among other attendees were Erica Garner, the daughter of Eric Garner, who died after being put in a chokehold by New York police.

“It’s like there is no accountability, no justice,” she said. “It’s like we’re back in the ’50s, back in the Martin Luther King days. When is our day to be free going to come?”

Outrage over his death

Gray’s death has prompted outrage across the nation, and daily demonstrations in Baltimore. Gray was arrested one week before he died when officers chased him through a West Baltimore neighborhood and dragged him into a police van.

Police said Gray was arrested after he made eye contact with officers and ran away. Officers held him down, handcuffed him and loaded him into the van. While inside, he became irate and leg cuffs were put on him, police have said.

Gray asked for medical help several times, beginning before he was placed in the van. After a 30-minute ride that included three stops, paramedics were called.

Authorities have not explained how or when Gray’s spine was injured.

Police acknowledged that Gray should have received medical attention on the spot where he was arrested – before he was put inside a police transport van handcuffed and without a seat belt, a violation of the police department’s policy.