The casket of Michael Brown sits inside Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church awaiting the start of his funeral on August 25, 2014 in St. Louis Mo.Robert Cohen—Getty Images
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.
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—ReutersGuests 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 ImagesAttendees 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—ReutersMembers 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—ReutersLesley 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 ImagesAmerican 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/EPAMichael 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 ImagesPeople attend the funeral of Michael Brown inside the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Robert Cohen—Pool/Getty ImagesPeople 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 ImagesLesley 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—ReutersPallbearers carry the casket of Michael Brown at St. Peter's Cemetery in St. Louis on Aug. 25, 2014. Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesRev. 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 ImagesMichael 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 ImagesLesley 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
