Mississippi: Funeral held for slain gay politician Marco McMillian
The funeral of Marco McMillian, a gay Mississippi mayoral candidate who was killed late last month has taken place.
On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at the Coahoma County College just outside of Clarksdale to remember the community leader.
The body of the 33-year-old was found on 27 February near the Mississippi River west of Clarksdale, the city where he was running for mayor on a platform of helping the poor and fighting crime.
More than 100 members of his university fraternity attended the funeral.
Georgia congressman John Lewis praised McMillian as a young man who was willing to give up the prime of his life to serve his community.
Carter Womack, McMillian’s godfather, said the family is still hoping for justice and for more information about what happened to him.
Last week, the FBI confirmed it would be investigating the killing as a possible hate crime.
McMillian’s family has said that he was beaten, dragged and burned.
The Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department has charged Lawrence Reed, 22, in connection with murder.
