The Rev. Al Sharpton says that the report by the
New York Daily News that the family of Walter Scott doesn't want him at their son's funeral is false.
The Daily News reported that a source close to the Scott family told the paper that "we don't want another Ferguson type of circus here."
It was a reference to a speech Sharpton gave at the funeral of Missouri black teenager Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by white police officer Darren Wilson.
Chris Stewart, the Scott family attorney, told the Daily News that "the Reverend Al has called and expressed his support and condolences. The family is very appreciative."
However, Stewart also said that "the funeral is only going to be close family members."
The Daily News previously reported that Sharpton said that he "had no plans to go down" to South Carolina, but he was "willing to be helpful to the family but only when needed."
However,
CBS Atlanta is reporting that Sharpton said that the Daily News story is "bogus."
"There has never been a discussion about me attending or participating in the funeral on Saturday, since everyone knows that (National Action Network’s) convention with thousands of delegates is happening in New York and doesn’t end until Saturday night," Sharpton said in a statement, CBS reported.
"In fact, every major civil rights organization leaders will join me on Saturday morning for a press conference," he said.
However, he did say that while he's been invited to preach in South Carolina on Sunday, he hasn't decided yet if he will "accept the invitation to preach in North Charleston and participate in the prayer vigil."
Michael Thomas Slager, a 33-year-old North Charleston policeman, has been charged with the murder of Scott, a 50-year-old black man, whom he shot and killed on April 4 during a traffic stop. The shooting was caught on video by a bystander.
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