Common and Rev. Al Sharpton attend the funeral service for Erica Garner, 27

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Harlem on Monday to pay their final respects to activist Erica Garner, 27, who died on Christmas eve after suffering a heart attack.
She was the daughter of Eric Garner, who died in 2014 after being put in a chokehold by a police officer on Staten Island. Erica was an icon for the Black Lives Matter Movement after her father's death. His final words, "I can't breathe", became a rallying cry for the movement.

Public viewings for Erica were held Monday afternoon at the First Corinthian Baptist Church, followed by funeral services. Rapper Common and Rev. Al Sharpton were present at the funeral service and were photographed standing with Erica Garner’s mom Esaw Snipes.



Rev. Sharpton delivered the eulogy for Erica and his social media posts throughout the day were aimed at honoring her.

The service was not without controversy. There was tension outside the church on Monday night and police stepped in when it seemed those tensions might boil over. Gwen Carr,  who is the mother of Mr. Eric Garner and the grandmother of Ms. Erica Garner, was turned away from the church.

Afterward, Rev Sharpton said the commotion, including a person who burst into the church yelling during the middle of the service, was part of a "family friction" that should not distract from Ms. Garner’s work.