Tears and anger at funeral of 'police chokehold victim' Jonathan Sanders | US news | The Guardian

1.8.15

Tears and anger at funeral of 'police chokehold victim' Jonathan Sanders | US news | The Guardian: A thousand people turned out – as many as live in the entire town of Stonewall – and many wore shirts printed with the slogan “Justice For Jonathan”.

“When you put heat to the kettle, the pressure begins,” said speaker Dennis Evans, in remarks that brought the congregation to its feet. “When you turn up the heat, the water starts to boil. And finally when the pressure gets too high, the kettle whistles. That’s us whistling, now, calling for justice for Jonathan.”

Sanders’s mother, Frances, wept in the first pew, as ushers – ladies in white dresses and white gloves – fanned her.

One of those women, Lisa Johnson, 51, is a distant relative of Sanders.

“This is a sad day, Jesus,” she said. “We have a bad history with the police here. Five years ago they beat my cousin to death. Believe and trust me: we have a problem here.”