On Tue. Mar. 31, Lovelle Mixon, the person who took the lives of four Oakland police officers, was laid to rest. Guests reminisced about the 26-year-old, and used his death to encourage increased community togetherness.
Nearly 500 people filled the Fuller Funeral Home on International Blvd. for the open-casket service. They came out to mourn and show their love and support for Mixon and his family.
Spectators lined the walls and the halls were packed with funeral patrons. Because the building had a seating capacity of 303, some people had to wait outside as Mixon’s funeral took place.
According to his obituary, Mixon was one of 12 children and worked as a certified plumber and custodian. He married his childhood sweetheart, Amora Langston.
Not everyone who attended the service was Mixon’s friend or family. An activist for the Uhuru Movement, Bakari Olatunji, attended Mixon’s memorial service despite not knowing Mixon.
“I’m out here to pay respect to the family and attempt to organize the community,” he said.
Uhuru Movement is a nationally recognized community-based activism group whose regional office is here in Oakland.
In addition to Uhuru, ministers and other community groups passed out fliers that advocated bringing the community together as well as information for where different church services will be held.
One flier simply read, “Stop the violence.”
Shawn Williams, a 44-year-old activist from the city of Oakland, stood in front of the funeral parlor, shouting that media was not representing Mixon fairly.
“They hyped up those officers and raised all that money for them, what about Lovelle and his family?” He asked. “He’s a human being too.”
No one vocalized any support for Mixon or his actions during the service. The Mixon family mourned their loss. One family member, Kaela Petty, talked about how sad she was that this tragedy took place.
She expressed sympathy for Mixon and the officers, saying, “We have a long way to go in this community and it needs to start now!”
Tears silently dotted many onlookers’ faces as they listened to Mixon’s family’s speeches. They had come to acknowledge that a person had died.
One minister tried to tie funeral guests to each other. He asked everyone to hug the person next to them and tell them “I love you.”
Hymns were sung, and the reverend who closed the service talked about how everyone should come together in this time of tragedy and strive to make Oakland better.
