Clashes erupt at NY funeral

The funeral procession turned into a demonstration

Protesters have clashed with police in New York City during a funeral procession for the latest unarmed black man killed by police officers.

Because you're young and black, avoid being on the street corners for too long. You will be considered a drug dealer and you will be killed.

Monsignor Rollin Dorbouze

Twenty-three police officers and four civilians were injured in the clashes, and 27 people were arrested on charges including disorderly conduct and inciting a riot.

Injuries among police included a broken nose, broken fingers and torn ligaments, a spokesman said.

The disturbance came after a procession of protesters and mourners several miles long followed a hearse carrying the body of 26-year-old Patrick Dorismond, who was shot dead on 16 March.

As Dorismond's coffin was brought out of the funeral home draped in Haitian and American flags, a quiet family gathering grew into a loud protest march of at least 3,000 people.

Protesters tore the US flag from Dorismond's coffin and burned it

Black leader Reverend Al Sharpton headed the procession to a church mass with supporters hoisting a banner that read "Justice for Patrick".

At the entrance to Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, a few protesters surged forward and snatched the US flag off Dorismond's coffin, tore it to shreds, then set the pieces on fire.

Sting

Dorismond was shot after an officer conducting a drug sting allegedly asked Dorismond if he would sell him marijuana.

The two scuffled, back-up officers arrived and one officer's gun went off, killing Dorismond.

The shooting happened just two weeks after another undercover officer fatally shot an unarmed man in the Bronx near where unarmed immigrant Amadou Diallo was shot and killed in hail of 41 police bullets last year.

The four officers in the Diallo case were acquitted last month.

"If Patrick could speak to you," Monsignor Rollin Dorbouze told those attending the funeral at Holy Cross Church, "he would say: 'Because you're young and black, avoid being on the street corners for too long. You will be considered a drug dealer and you will be killed."

Resignation call

Many protesters demanded Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's resignation over the killing - the third of an unarmed black civilian by undercover officers in the city in the past 13 months.

"It's our blood, it's not cheap. We must let them know this must stop," said Michel Eddy, who, like Dorismond, came to the US from Haiti.

Two police officers were injured when crowds surged through barriers

Mayor Giuliani has been criticised since the shooting for releasing information from Dorismond's police record, including sealed juvenile files, and for not visiting Dorismond's family.

Hillary Clinton, who is Mr Giuliani's rival for a US Senate seat, said on Friday that the mayor's statements were worsening racial tensions in the city.

"The mayor has hunkered down, taken sides and further divided this city," she said.

Mr Giuliani has even attracted criticism from his fellow Republicans.

"You do wonder what he's thinking," said one Republican state senator.

"Clearly, he should have, without assigning blame, expressed regret that it happened at all."