LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLA. (WSVN) - Two South Florida pastors have organized a symbolic funeral to honor the recent deaths of Alton Sterlin, Philando Castile, and the victims of the Dallas shootings.
“White life? Black life? No. One life. All of us. All lives are equal in God’s sight,” said Pastor Dennis Scott.
Scott and other community leaders met at Bell Funeral homes in Lauderdale Lakes, where they used a casket and hearse to represent the recent police-involved deaths. The processions traveled to Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park where a prayer vigil was held Tuesday night.
“We feel that it was very symbolic to show in that casket, it may be black, it may be white, it doesn’t matter — the fact that there’s a dead body,” Scott said.
“We want the entire community to come together to feel the pain, to experience the hurt that is happening in our country together,” said Pastor Jeff Terrelonge.
The religious leaders believe that only together will we be able to make a change. “A change takes time, and it takes a lot of effort and sacrifice,” Terrelonge said.
The pastors met Monday with Broward County’s Sheriff Scott Israel, who vowed to re-evaluate deputy training. “The ultimate goal is to make sure that we’re deescalating situations,” Israel said.
“It starts with prayer,” Scott said. “We believe prayer changes things.”
The pastors said they will continue to push this dialogue until there is change. “We want to make sure that when the cameras are gone, that the emotions, the feelings, the desire, the passion — to bring about change and reform still remains, and we continue to push,” said Terrelonge.
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