Rosie Hernandez, whose nephew who is a Baton Rouge police officer, and her husband found seats Thursday inside the church where the vigil is being held.
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Gerald, Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola, 45, and Police Officer Montrell Jackson, 32, were shot and killed by Gavin Long, an Army veteran from Kansas City, Missouri.
Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch were among those who attended the vigil, which featured photos of the officers with their wives, children and friends. Both called for calm and unity.
As the church was filled with people, a presentation played on the big screens.
Three empty chairs flanked the podium, each draped with a sash and hat for the fallen. Each sash had the names of the fallen officers with each of their law enforcement hats. It was a symbol of the officer’s lives and sacrifices.
Rosie Hernandez, whose nephew who is a Baton Rouge police officer, said she was confident the vigil would help heal and unite a community grappling with racial tensions. “Each of them had DNA, an instinct to protect and serve”.
The theme of the memorial was healing.
A Louisiana State Trooper plays “Taps” on a trumpet during funeral services for Baton Rouge Police Department officer Montrell Jackson at Greenoaks Memorial Park in Baton Rouge. But as we go forward, I pledge to you that the Department of Justice that I am honored to lead will be there to work alongside you.
In his post he encouraged peace.
“We know the message that he left, but it wasn’t just for Baton Rouge”.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch will host a First Responder event at the First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd. “White people oftentimes did not want us providing services and preferred white officers, while at the same time people in the black community saw us as traitors for joining the police”. I – will – not – let – hate – infect – my – heart.
Although Alexander had a receipt from a gas station that proved that he could not have been involved in the shooting, officers still arrested him and his friend, and were locked in the back of a police vehicle. He explained how he understands the pain they are experiencing.
And just like Garafola stood by Officer Matthew Gerald that morning, Gerald’s wife Dechia Garafola said that the law enforcement community has stood by her family.
Thank you, once again, for allowing me to be here. “The community has to know that that cop on the beat, the cop riding through on a patrol, who that is: ‘That’s John. It’s stamped into your DNA”.
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“We’ve got to close the distance, not just in Baton Rouge but all across America, between the neighborhood and law enforcement”, he said, calling for a return to what he said was closer community policing during the 1990s.
