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5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral

By Jeralyn, Section Law Related
Posted on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 02:42:12 PM EST
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5,000 mourners attended Johnnie Cochran's funeral today at a South LA baptist church West Angeles Cathedral in South Los Angeles. The LA Times has coverage here, including this video of Al Sharpton's eulogy. Here's the entire list of speakers.

Rap mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, civil rights activists Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton, actor Sidney Poitier, singer Stevie Wonder, record producer Quincy Jones and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy were also on the guest list.

The speaker's list included one of Cochran's most notable clients -- former Black Panther Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

Also in attendance: Michael Jackson, whose trial was recessed today, and O.J. Simpson.

More pictures here.

And this:

With all due respect to you brother Simpson, we didn't clap when the acquittal of Simpson came for O.J., we were clapping for Johnnie," the Rev. Al Sharpton said in his eulogy. "We were clapping because for decades our brothers, our cousins, our uncles had to stand in the well with no one to stand up for them. And finally a black man came and said, if it don't fit – you must acquit."

Cochran's famous line from Simpson's murder trial drew a roar from the throng, which heard from many other figures from Cochran's life, including two other members of the Simpson "dream team," Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who called Cochran "the tallest tree in our legal forest."

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    5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 03:17:30 PM EST
    you can tell the wealth of a man's character by the number of people who take the time to offer condolences (or say good-bye). so Johnnie C. was undoubtedly liked and respected. so logically following, at @2,000,000 mourners, the pope was really liked and respected. may both RIP!

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#2)
    by Lindsay on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 04:39:42 PM EST
    Sorry. But that whole group that was on OJ's defense team do not deserve any respect. Many of them tarnished their otherwise illustrious careers. When I see Henry Lee and the two guys (names escape me) who got prisoners off with DNA, it still makes me mad. They knowingly let a murder back on the streets.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 05:12:50 PM EST
    Lindsay, your ignorance is astounding. Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld who represented OJ along with Cochran run the Innocence Project, which is responsible for 157 factually innocent persons being released from prisons to date. When an innocent person is imprisoned it means the real perpetrator roams free, able to strike again. I'm only leaving your comment up so others can see how clueless some people are. And please, show some respect for the dead.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#4)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:41:31 AM EST
    Cochran was a fine man, we lost a brilliant mind and a man that gave a lot more than people know. For those that care to "blame" Cochran for "getting oj off" I proffer that there were 12 people sitting in that jury box casting individual votes as to his guilt or innocence. The attorneys casted doubt on the case, the jurors voted not guilty. Funny how the lawyers get blamed when 12 americans, a jury of all of our peers weighed the evidence presented by both sides and found in favor of Orenthal James Simpson. Have an issue with the ruling, take it up with the jurors. Johnny Cochran was a great and noble man.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#5)
    by txpublicdefender on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 09:42:36 AM EST
    RIP, Johnnie. He definitely inspired me to do the job I do today.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 01:11:08 PM EST
    West Angeles Cathedral is not a Baptist church. It is a COGIC, Church of God in Christ. The cathedral seats 5,000, which was full. An overflow crowd that spilt onto the street, would make that figure much larger.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 10:24:12 PM EST
    Kathy, please tell Reuters. Here is the line in their article linked above:
    The pop star was among some 5,000 people at the funeral in a south Los Angeles Baptist church.
    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 07:25:14 AM EST
    Lindsey, you are quite ignorant. Mr. Cochran should be remembered for his outstanding work other than his famous case with OJ Simpson. Because of him, no officer is allowed to use the choke-hold because a man died. he made many contributions to the community, and he was an all around great man. getting people off the hook was what he did for a living, so he wasn't doing anything more than what you and i do everyday. and by the way, were you there...do you know what happened that day? correct me if i'm wrong, but i think that only GOD, Nicole Brown Simpson, OJ, and Ron Goldman and of course the killer are the only people that know what happened.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 11, 2005 at 07:50:37 PM EST
    i hope that there are no more ignorant people out there like lindsey. Mr. Cochran, I admired him he delivered his case in the court room to the point where the jury saw O.J. innocent. You cant blame a dead man for getting him off. He did his job and was good at it. I bet if the shoe had been on the other foot you would have wanted to call him, if you could afford him. To speak of a dead man or any dead person that way is sick. You need to get yourself together.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 11, 2005 at 07:58:30 PM EST
    Ms. Lindsey, that was bad girl. It's bad to know that there are people out there like you. You need Jesus, because christian people would not speak of the dead that way. You probably don't even know that man. How would you feel if someone spoke of your mother, father, sister, brother, children or even yourself that way. He was a father, husband,brother, son, maybe even a grandfather. You are a confused person anyone that speak of the dead that way is sick. Lindsey, I must admit that was below the belt. Get you some help girl. Find you a church. Because you need help and if you are going to church maybe you need to find you another one because they are teaching you wrong.

    Re: 5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 20, 2005 at 10:08:54 PM EST
    How can you lindsay, just ultimately say that the whole defense team was wrong... Think about what you said, and even you should kick yourself for the ignorance that you displayed. Johnnie Cochran fought for justice, not just for blacks, he believed in the law, and served under the law... Get a life, and a little more education.

    5,000 Attend Johnnie Cochran's Funeral | 11 comments (11 topical)