UPDATE: Al Sharpton will not attend Franklin Florence funeral service in Rochester

Justin Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read
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UPDATE FEB. 8: Al Sharpton had a scheduling conflict and will not be in Rochester for Franklin Florence's funeral services, his granddaughter, Clianda Florence, said. The rest of the schedule remains the same.

Original story follows:

Al Sharpton will be in Rochester on Friday to lead a memorial service for Franklin Florence, his family announced Saturday.

Minister Florence, the founding president of the local civil rights organization FIGHT and a longtime leader in the Black community, died Feb. 1 at age 88. His granddaughter, Clianda Florence, revealed during an interview on WDKX-FM Saturday morning that Sharpton will officiate a service Friday evening at Central Church of Christ, 101 S. Plymouth Ave., Florence's spiritual home for the last 50 years.

There will be a wake from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Central Church of Christ, followed by a service led by Sharpton from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will then be another service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, led by Dr. W.F. Washington, a pastor at Golden Heights Church of Christ in Florida. The Saturday service will be at the downtown Riverside Convention Center.

Rev. Al Sharpton with Rev. Franklin Florence at the Peace Baptist Church in Rochester in 1994.
Rev. Al Sharpton with Rev. Franklin Florence at the Peace Baptist Church in Rochester in 1994.

As perhaps the best known local civil rights advocate, Florence became familiar with many national leaders over the years, including Sharpton. He hosted him for a rally against police brutality in 1991 and a protest coinciding with the Ryder Cup golf tournament in 1995.

Florence also campaigned alongside Sharpton during his try for a U.S. Senate seat in 1994.

Al Sharpton, (Center), with Minister Franklin Florence, (Left), and Lenora Fulani at a 1991 session on police brutality at Central Church of Christ.
Al Sharpton, (Center), with Minister Franklin Florence, (Left), and Lenora Fulani at a 1991 session on police brutality at Central Church of Christ.

Sharpton last week delivered a eulogy for Tyre Nichols, the Black man killed by Memphis police last month. He also conducted funeral services last May for some of the victims of the mass shooting at a Tops grocery store in Buffalo.

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton speaks to the media outside Antioch Baptist Church in Buffalo.
Civil rights activist Al Sharpton speaks to the media outside Antioch Baptist Church in Buffalo.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: UPDATE: Al Sharpton will not attend Franklin Florence funeral service in Rochester