Roughly 200 mourners gathered Monday, Nov. 20, for the funeral of Dexter Wade, a 37-year-old father killed by an off-duty Jackson, Mississippi, police officer in March.

Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy at New Horizon Church International, pledged to lead the fight for justice against anyone involved in the alleged cover-up of Wade’s death, as reported by WLBT. Sharpton and the National Action Network covered Wade’s funeral expenses.

“His life mattered to his mama and daughters, and we’re going to make it matter all over this country,” Sharpton said.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, District 3 Supervisor David Archie, and Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes were among the attendees. Stokes was the sole representative from Jackson in attendance.

Wade’s death unfolded on I-55 South, just south of McDowell Road, where an off-duty officer ran over Wade while he walked on the interstate.

Despite being a more than 10-year veteran with the Jackson Police Department, the officer failed to inform Wade’s mother, Bettersten, of her son’s death until August. She thanked those who assisted in making her son’s funeral possible. She recounted her efforts to find her son. “Dexter,” she said, “you made it home.”

National civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is assisting with the case, revealed that the Hinds County Coroner’s Office confirmed Wade’s identity on March 8 due to delays and an alleged cover-up. Bettersten wasn’t informed of her son’s death until months later.

Wade was buried under marker No. 672 at the county’s pauper’s burial ground, only to be exhumed last week without his family present.

“We hear that the off-duty policeman is Black. That might be true. It was three Black cops that beat Tyre Nichols in Memphis… and we went there [and] they’re all under indictment,” Sharpton said. “I don’t care if he’s Black or white. What he did is wrong. In fact, I’m more offended that you’re Black because you wouldn’t have done that to a young white man.” 

Sharpton also addressed the potential motivations behind the delayed notification, questioning whether it was retaliation for Bettersten’s legal action against the police department regarding the death of her brother, George Robinson.

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