Chicago remembers teen victim of city gun violence
CHICAGO (AP) - Hundreds of mourners and dignitaries, including first lady Michelle Obama, stood and applauded the family of a 15-year-old Chicago girl for their strength Saturday, a week and a half after her death brought national attention to the city's staggering gun violence.
One speaker after another at Saturday's funeral remembered Hadiya Pendleton as more than a symbol, but as a girl who had dreams, joked with her friends and loved school and performing as a majorette with the group that performed at events surrounding President Barack Obama's inauguration just days before her death on Jan. 29. Police say Pendleton was an innocent victim in a gang-related shooting.
Her godfather, Damon Stewart, said some people on Facebook had asked what made Hadiya's death noteworthy when more than 40 people had already been slain in Chicago this year - many without so much as a mention in local newspapers. The answer, Stewart told the packed South Side church, was obvious.
"She's important because all those other people who died are important," Stewart said. "She's important because all of those lives and voices of those families who were ignored, she now speaks for them. ... I don't believe in coincidence. God needed an angel. God needed to send somebody for us to change."
Michelle Obama met privately with the family before the service and then accompanied the girl's mother to the open casket at the front of the church. Obama, who grew up on Chicago's South Side, put her arm around Cleopatra Pendleton and patted her back. The woman threw her head back and wailed as the lid of her daughter's flower-strewn casket was closed.
Moments later, the hundreds in attendance rose to their feet to begin the service with a round of applause "to the strength of this family." Then, the choir began to sing so loud the floor shook.
Some of Illinois' most recognizable politicians and clergy were in attendance, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. But Pendleton's family says her Saturday funeral service was not about politics - it was about remembering a girl who loved to dance, who once appeared in an anti-gang video.
None of the dignitaries was slated to speak Saturday. Instead, close friends, holding back tears, got up to remember her. One of them said she felt Hadiya was "still here with us, whispering the answers in chemistry." The captain of the King College Prep majorettes presented Cleopatra Pendleton with her team jacket.
Father Michael Pfleger, a prominent Chicago pastor, said Hadiya was the face of an "epidemic of violence causing funeral processions around the country."
"Sisters and brothers, I beg you," he said. "We must become like Jesus. We must become the interrupters of funeral processions."
Pendleton was shot and killed while she talked with friends after school at a park not far from the Obamas' home in the Kenwood neighborhood. Police have said the shooting appears to be a case of mistaken identity involving gang members who believed the park was their territory. No charges have been filed.
Pendleton's death brought new attention to Chicago's homicide rate and the national debate over gun violence. Pendleton's slaying came in a January that was the city's deadliest in a decade. In 2012, Chicago recorded 506 homicides.
A glossy, eight-page funeral program included photos of Pendleton and details about her life, including her favorite foods - cheeseburgers, fig cookies, Chinese and ice cream - and the numerous school organizations she was involved in. The program also included a copy of a handwritten note from President Obama addressed to the girl's family.
"Michelle and I just wanted you to know how heartbroken we are to have heard about Hadiya's passing," it reads. "We know that no words from us can soothe the pain, but rest assured that we are praying for you, and that we will continue to work as hard as we can to end this senseless violence. God bless, Barack Obama."
Other dignitaries at the service were Gov. Pat Quinn, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett - all of whom are from Chicago.
Quinn mentioned Pendleton's death in his State of the State address earlier this week as he called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
"There are no words in the English language . or any language . to relieve the pain of parents who lose a child," Quinn said.
One speaker after another at Saturday's funeral remembered Hadiya Pendleton as more than a symbol, but as a girl who had dreams, joked with her friends and loved school and performing as a majorette with the group that performed at events surrounding President Barack Obama's inauguration just days before her death on Jan. 29. Police say Pendleton was an innocent victim in a gang-related shooting.
Her godfather, Damon Stewart, said some people on Facebook had asked what made Hadiya's death noteworthy when more than 40 people had already been slain in Chicago this year - many without so much as a mention in local newspapers. The answer, Stewart told the packed South Side church, was obvious.
"She's important because all those other people who died are important," Stewart said. "She's important because all of those lives and voices of those families who were ignored, she now speaks for them. ... I don't believe in coincidence. God needed an angel. God needed to send somebody for us to change."
Michelle Obama met privately with the family before the service and then accompanied the girl's mother to the open casket at the front of the church. Obama, who grew up on Chicago's South Side, put her arm around Cleopatra Pendleton and patted her back. The woman threw her head back and wailed as the lid of her daughter's flower-strewn casket was closed.
Moments later, the hundreds in attendance rose to their feet to begin the service with a round of applause "to the strength of this family." Then, the choir began to sing so loud the floor shook.
Some of Illinois' most recognizable politicians and clergy were in attendance, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. But Pendleton's family says her Saturday funeral service was not about politics - it was about remembering a girl who loved to dance, who once appeared in an anti-gang video.
None of the dignitaries was slated to speak Saturday. Instead, close friends, holding back tears, got up to remember her. One of them said she felt Hadiya was "still here with us, whispering the answers in chemistry." The captain of the King College Prep majorettes presented Cleopatra Pendleton with her team jacket.
Father Michael Pfleger, a prominent Chicago pastor, said Hadiya was the face of an "epidemic of violence causing funeral processions around the country."
"Sisters and brothers, I beg you," he said. "We must become like Jesus. We must become the interrupters of funeral processions."
Pendleton was shot and killed while she talked with friends after school at a park not far from the Obamas' home in the Kenwood neighborhood. Police have said the shooting appears to be a case of mistaken identity involving gang members who believed the park was their territory. No charges have been filed.
Pendleton's death brought new attention to Chicago's homicide rate and the national debate over gun violence. Pendleton's slaying came in a January that was the city's deadliest in a decade. In 2012, Chicago recorded 506 homicides.
A glossy, eight-page funeral program included photos of Pendleton and details about her life, including her favorite foods - cheeseburgers, fig cookies, Chinese and ice cream - and the numerous school organizations she was involved in. The program also included a copy of a handwritten note from President Obama addressed to the girl's family.
"Michelle and I just wanted you to know how heartbroken we are to have heard about Hadiya's passing," it reads. "We know that no words from us can soothe the pain, but rest assured that we are praying for you, and that we will continue to work as hard as we can to end this senseless violence. God bless, Barack Obama."
Other dignitaries at the service were Gov. Pat Quinn, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett - all of whom are from Chicago.
Quinn mentioned Pendleton's death in his State of the State address earlier this week as he called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
"There are no words in the English language . or any language . to relieve the pain of parents who lose a child," Quinn said.
I've read the Mother will be at the SOTU address where she will no doubt be the human prop for B HO gun control rhetoric.
Looks like the Chicago gun ban is working.
Tragic! I would hate to have to go through the loss of a child. Deepest sympathy for the family. Also deepest contempt for Michelle Obama. Never miss a chance to exploit tragedy. Yours and Barrys' communist friend Bobby Rush showed up along with the media whores Emanuel and Jackson. So how's the gun control in Chicago working out for you Rahm? Oh yeah, try to "Rahm" it down our throats and leave us defenseless for your thugs, don't get your hope up.
The reason she is news is that the shooter fired at the wrong group and she was an innocent bystander.
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Almost all the other murders were black on black gang bangers and few get upset about those folks dying.
@RalphCramden Not to be biased, but it is hard to tell people apart in the darkness, no matter what their race is! Â
With the number of deaths/murders in Chicago, they could be holding one of these remembrances every day! When will they learn that it's not the weapon, but the mind of the person involved with using the weapon? Attempt changing the gang culture, or is that too much trouble?
IMHO,   Former Navy seal and most decorated sniper Chris Kyle is far more deserving of the honor (I use that term loosely) of a first lady's visit at his funeral, but he's military and there's no political hay to be made from that......
But I'm sure his family will get the normal presidential form letter within the next six months or so.........
@kramr ----Extra likes.
The gang member's mistaken adoration for their "territory" may well be their only expression for the missing father figure in their lives. Â Â
"Police have said the Jan. 29 shooting appears to be a case of mistaken identity involving gang members who believed the park was their territory." Â Â (from the story)
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This story tells me, once again, that we do not have a "gun" problem; we have a "PEOPLE" problem; specifically in this case, GANGS... and this is a problem that exists in virtually every city (and in many towns) in our country..! Â Â
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Until we address and resolve the problem of the gangs, legislation solely addressing guns will not accomplish ANYTHING; gang members, like all other criminals, have absolutely NO regard for "gun laws" - or any other laws... which is why we call them "criminals". Â Â
@margay1 --- And lest we forget, most of these gangmurders were coddled as minors by the system and now laugh at the idiots who let them go and murder to protect their "territory". Starting tomorrow Chicago needs to start street sweeps for every gang member, want to be's, enablers, and hangerons. You say they have rights...fine, then go Chicago and get rounded up with your buddies. Zero tolerance for gangs.
The First Lady should apologize for the President, governor, mayor and Chicago PD for failing to protect the little girl from gang violence in a gun-free city where gang violence is illegal, and then beg the family not to sue the city of Chicago for everything they can.Where guns are outlawed, outlaws have guns. Fact.
It's disgraceful to be using Hadiya Pendleton  death as a gold mine of polical capital in order to further the presidents agenda on gun control.
Here's an unpopular subject. Bring to light, quit denying the facts, and maybe ask Obama to highlight the issue of the embarrassing number of children born to unwed mothers of minority races. And the number of gang members born to delinquent fathers. It's a shame that these statistics are swept under the table. Bill Cosby wasn't afraid to talk about it.  Â
Gang issue. Gang problem. Cause: breakdown of the family unit. Resolution: stop denouncing the importance of a mom and a DAD in the majority of families with children.  Â
 @last boyscout I wish I could install festival searchlights to draw people's attention to this philosophy. Damned straight!
 @Playanekes We have to start somewhere. This has to be resolved. Too much damage is happening to far to many children.
@last boyscout @Playanekes But, where do you start when no matter what you do to eliminate gangs, especially in Chicago, you run into folks defending black gangstas. After all, they are just living the dream!Â
So I guess none of the other murdered teens in Chicago matter since they didn't perform in the inauguration? Or how about the victims of the 12 year old robbing 11 year olds with a fake gun in Chicago? Nope. No one else matters.
 @therandomrogerÂ
All the others were gang bangers. Few care when a criminal dies.
@RalphCramden @therandomroger Except when they are black, or African Americans. Is it ok for them to kill each other? NOPE! No matter how many vigils and candle-light events are held. They will keep killing each other over turf issues no matter what their mommas or ministerial conferences say! You want this indiscriminate killing spree to end? Fo after the gangsters! Habe zero tolerance! Stop protecting them or explaining away their stupidity and profit driven gang habits. Hold them or their parents accountable and leave law-abiding citizens alone!
 @jpk    @therandomrogerÂ
The black leaders just blame everyone else for the problems in the black community. It's part of the thinking process of the entitlement society.