Funeral Held In Dallas For Murdered Transgender Woman Muhlaysia Booker
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The transgender woman who was shot and killed in East Dallas 10 days ago will be laid to rest later today. Funeral services for Muhlaysia Booker are being held at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas.
Hundreds of friends, family and city leaders went to the church to pay their respects. The memorial marks the second day of goodbyes for the 22-year-old. A crowd of people attended a wake for Booker at a funeral home in Oak Cliff Monday evening.
One of the speakers addressed the congregation, saying, "We are here together today to demonstrate what it means to be community, and to stand together, and to know that we are stronger together, and that hate will never define us. Love will always win over hate."
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and several members of the City Council were in attendance.
During the service the community was asked to "avoid the feeling of visceral disrespect in this moment and give grace for each person to mourn and heal from this tragic loss."
A message of piece was expressed throughout the service. One speaker said plainly, "We believe in a God of love who makes no mistakes and who loves us just the way that we are."
Booker, a transgender woman, was found shot to death near the Tenison Park Golf Course on May 18. Dallas police are investigating the murder but so far haven't said if they have any suspects in the case.
It was just a month before her death when Muhlaysia Booker's name became known across the nation, after she was violently attacked in a parking lot of an Oak Cliff apartment complex.
The cell phone video - showing a crowd looking on as a man viciously beat Booker - went viral.
Many called the attack a hate crime against the transgender woman.
Dallas police arrested a man for the assault, but have not connected the attack to Booker's subsequent murder. Detectives are still investigating the murder and ask anyone with information to contact Dallas police at 214-671-3675.