Family, friends and members of the Memphis, Tennessee, community gathered Wednesday for the funeral of Tyre Nichols.
He died on Jan. 10, three days after he was beaten by Memphis police officers following a traffic stop.
During the eulogy, Rev. Al Sharpton called for police reform and shamed bad officers.
“You don’t fight crime by becoming criminals yourself," he said. "You don’t stand up to thugs in the street becoming thugs yourself. You don’t fight gangs by becoming five armed men against an unarmed man. That ain’t the police. That’s punks.”
Five officers were fired and charged with second-degree in the beating death of Nichols.
Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke at the funeral, acknowledging Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells.
"You have been extraordinary in terms of your strength, your courage and your grace," Harris said.
Through tears, Wells stood up and applauded as Harris demanded that Congress pass the George Floyd Justice in Police Act.
"Joe Biden will sign it," Harris said.
Wells spoke briefly on Wednesday, saying that her faith is getting her through this emotional time.
“The only thing that’s keeping me going is that I truly believe that my son was sent here on assignment from God. And I guess now his assignment is done. He’s gone home,” Wells said.
