• U.S.

Big Names Gather for Michael Brown’s Funeral

1 minute read

Well-known activists, politicians and celebrities were gathering Monday at a St. Louis church for the funeral of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old shot dead by a police officer two weeks ago.

The list of VIPs expected to attend the service includes director Spike Lee, rapper Snoop Dogg, music mogul Diddy, comedian Nick Cannon. The parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teen fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida in 2012, and relatives of Sean Bell, who was killed by New York City police officers in 2006, were also expected to be at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church.

The White House sent three representatives…

Read the rest of the story from our partners at NBC News

Mourners Gather to Say Goodbye to Michael Brown

Michael Brown Funeral Ferguson
People wait in line to attend the funeral for Michael Brown at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Joshua Lott—Reuters
Michael Brown Funeral Ferguson
Guests raise their hands as they wait in line to enter the funeral of Michael Brown at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Scott Olson—Getty Images
Attendees hold their hands up as some chant "Hands up don't shoot," while they wait in line to take part in the funeral services for 18-year-old Michael Brown at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri
Attendees hold their hands up as some chant "Hands up don't shoot," while they wait in line to take part in the funeral services for 18-year-old Michael Brown at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, on Aug. 25, 2014. Adrees Latif—Reuters
Members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (NBPP) stand guard in front of Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church ahead of  funeral services for 18-year-old Michael Brown in St. Louis, Missouri
Members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (NBPP) stand guard in front of the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Adrees Latif—Reuters
Michael Brown Funeral Ferguson
Lesley McSpadden (C) arrives for funeral of her son Michael Brown at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Scott Olson—Getty Images
Michael Brown Funeral Ferguson
American film director Spike Lee takes a picture of a black St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap on top of Michael Brown's casket during his funeral inside the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Robert Cohen—Pool/EPA
Funeral Held For Teen Shot To Death By Police In Ferguson, MO
Michael Brown Sr. sits with a child on his lap during the funeral services for his son Michael Brown inside the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Robert Cohen—Pool/Getty Images
Funeral Held For Teen Shot To Death By Police In Ferguson, MO
People attend the funeral of Michael Brown inside the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Robert Cohen—Pool/Getty Images
Funeral Held For Teen Shot To Death By Police In Ferguson, MO
People raise their arms during the funeral of Michael Brown inside the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Richard Perry—Pool/Getty Images
Lesley McSpadden watches as the casket containing the body of her son Michael Brown lifted into a hearse after his funeral services at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, St. Louis, Missouri
Lesley McSpadden (R, in red) watches as the casket containing the body of her son Michael Brown is lifted into a hearse after his funeral services at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Adrees Latif—Reuters
Funeral Held For Teen Shot To Death By Police In Ferguson, MO
Pallbearers carry the casket of Michael Brown at St. Peter's Cemetery in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Joe Raedle—Getty Images
Funeral Held For Teen Shot To Death By Police In Ferguson, MO
Rev. Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson touch the casket during the funeral for Michael Brown at St. Peters Cemetery in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014.Richard Perry—Pool/Getty Images
US-CRIME-RACE-POLICE-SHOOTING-FUNERAL
Michael Brown Sr, yells out as his son's casket is lowered into the ground at St. Peter's Cemetery in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Richard Perry—Pool/Getty Images
Lesley McSpadden leaves the burial service for her son Michael Brown with a bouquet of flowers at St. Pete's Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri
Lesley McSpadden (C) leaves the burial service for her son Michael Brown with a bouquet of flowers at St. Peter's Cemetery in St. Louis, on Aug. 25, 2014. Joshua Lott—Reuters

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com