At 24-year-old Jamar Clark's funeral on Nov. 25 at Shiloh Temple International Ministries, Clark's family and members of the Minneapolis Urban League called for a cessation of protests. Since Clark's death on Nov. 15 at the hands of police officers Mark Riggenberg and Dustin Schwarze, Black Lives Matter protesters have been rallying outside the police precinct closest to Clark's place of death.
Tuesday's violent attack on the protesters, carried out by three white men in their 20's who have since been arrested, have increased the tension in Minneapolis. "Despite earlier statements from police about the impending threat from white supremacists, the police instead Maced citizen journalists and peaceful protesters... They made disparaging comments to those at the protests instead of taking the threat seriously. We reiterate that we have zero faith in this police department's desire to keep our community safe," said Miski Noor, a Black Lives Matter Minneapolis organizer, according to The New York Times.
Clark's family wore t-shirts that said "I Matter" to the funeral, and several speakers thanked the protesters for bringing about awareness and change, according to Star Tribune. "Jamar, your life did and does have purpose," said Bishop Richard D. Howell Jr., a bishop at the Shiloh Temple. "Your death is not in vain. We will fight with the tools you have provided."
However, Stephen Belton, the Minneapolis Urban League's interim president, has stated that some members of Clark's family are calling for a complete cessation of protests. "The family of Jamar Clark has been traumatized by the violent manner of his loss, the absence of information or explanation for the shooting and the challenge of navigating their grief amid the glare of media attention and among competing political agendas... They have called for peace and a cessation of protests for Jamar's sake and the safety of the community," Belton said, according to Star Tribune.
Nevertheless, Black Lives Matter protesters plan to press on for justice. "We are not going nowhere," said Jayme Ali, a protester and pastor at God of All Saints Church, according to CBS Minnesota. "We are there until we get justice for Jamar Clark. Fourth Precinct, start taking donations for a new building, because we are not going anywhere."
