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First Lady Attends Funeral of Chicago Teen Shot After Performing at the Inauguration: ‘Tragic Loss…Due to Senseless Gun Violence’

Feb. 9, 2013 5:29pm Erica Ritz

Michelle Obama Attends Hadiya Pendletons Funeral in Chicago | Slain After Performing at Inauguration

This undated file family photo provided by Damon Stewart shows 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton of Chicago who was was shot Jan. 29, 2013 while she talked with friends in a park about a mile from President Barack Obama’s Chicago home. (Photo: AP)

(TheBlaze/AP) — Hundreds of mourners and dignitaries, including first lady Michelle Obama, packed the funeral service Saturday for a Chicago teen whose killing catapulted her into the nation’s debate over gun violence.

But one speaker after another remembered 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton not so much as a symbol but as a best friend, reports say, an excellent student with big dreams and simply a girl with a great smile and bubbly personality. They said she was a typical teen who wanted to borrow her friends’ clothes and who never left home without her lip gloss.

And to her mother, Pendleton was the daughter she tried to keep busy so she’d be beyond the reach of the city’s seemingly endless gang violence.

“You don’t know how hard this really is, and those of you who do know how hard this really is, I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Cleopatra Pendleton told the packed South Side church. “No mother, no father should ever have to experience this.”

Cleopatra Pendleton (L) arrives for the funeral of her 15-year-old daughter Hadiya at the Greater Harvest M.B. Church on February 9, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Getty Images)

Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed on Jan. 29 as she stood with friends at a neighborhood park about a mile from President Barack Obama’s Chicago home in the Kenwood neighborhood. Just days before, the band majorette was among the performers during events for Obama’s inauguration. Police say Pendleton was an innocent victim in a gang-related shooting.

Michelle Obama was among a long list of dignitaries who attended the funeral, but she was able to meet privately with the family before the service. She also accompanied the girl’s mother to the open casket at the front of the church.

“As a mother and Chicagoan, the first lady was heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Hadiya Pendleton due to senseless gun violence,” Kristina Schake, an aide to Obama, commented.

The first lady, who grew up on Chicago’s South Side, put her arm around Cleopatra Pendleton and patted her back.

Criticized for “politicizing” the girl’s death on Friday, though, she appeared to making an effort to avoid the press and ducked in through a side door.

First lady Michelle Obama (L) ducks in a side door after arrivng at the Greater Harvest M.B. Church for the funeral of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton on February 9, 2013, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Getty Images)

Some of Illinois’ most recognizable politicians and clergy were in attendance, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, Gov. Pat Quinn, and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

But Pendleton’s family said the service wouldn’t be political – it would be a time to remember a girl who loved to dance and who once appeared in an anti-gang video.

None of the dignitaries spoke Saturday. Instead, close friends, holding back tears, got up to remember her.

One of them said she felt Hadiya was “still here with us, whispering the answers in chemistry.”

The Rev. Jesse Jackson leaves the wake of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton at the Calahan Funeral Home in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Getty Images)

But the national impact of the young woman’s killing was noted.

Her godfather, Damon Stewart, said someone on Facebook asked what made Pendleton’s death more noteworthy than those of more than 40 people who had already been slain in Chicago this year – many without so much as a mention in local newspapers.

“She’s important because all those other people who died are important,” Stewart retorted. “She’s important because all of those lives and voices of those families who were ignored, she now speaks for them. … I don’t believe in coincidence. God needed an angel. God needed to send somebody for us to change.”

Father Michael Pfleger, a prominent Chicago pastor, reportedly asked, “when did we lose our soul?” in discussing “our failure as a society that has allowed guns to become part of our wardrobe.”

An overflow crowd stands outside the Greater Harvest M.B. Church during the funeral of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton on February 9, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Getty Images)

Pendleton’s slaying came in a January that was the city’s deadliest in a decade. In 2012, Chicago recorded 506 homicides.

A glossy, eight-page funeral program included photos of Pendleton and details about her life. It also had a copy of a handwritten note from President Obama addressed to the girl’s family.

“We know that no words from us can soothe the pain, but rest assured that we are praying for you, and that we will continue to work as hard as we can to end this senseless violence,” it read.

According to ABC News, Hadiya’s mother is expected to be a guest of honor at the State of the Union Tuesday night.

CBS Chicago has more:

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In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (158)

FiscalBill
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:25am
Im sure she’ll be a Chris Kyle’s funeral too.

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demsrtraitors
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:25am
if the victim was White do you really think she would have come?

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demsrtraitors
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:19am
over 10,000 people were murdered during Daley’s democrat reign and under HIS liberal policies. Looks like the new mayor who believes his liberal polices will change things. over 500 people murdered in Chicago last year and not a single 1 by an AR 15 or so called assault rifle. But you better believe it was blacks and hispanics that were doing the shootings. Now why isn’t that fact getting out? Can facts be racist? hate facts? Is it the fault of White America? Republicans? Conservatives? Christianity? Oh but leave it up to the traitorous lefties to try to make it connect to them some how.

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crusaderx9
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 10:10pm
Chicago needs rid themselves of human waste and hire a new zoo keeper…

“F’king savages” (cue Wagner)

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- demsrtraitors
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:21am
  I’ve been calling it ChiCongo for years. Because of the savages, the corrupted government there and because its a war zone.
  
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BostonHarold
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 9:52pm
So sad. This smart beautiful young lady gunned down before her time. What a waste. May her spirit haunt Chicago forever. RIP Hadiya. Your sweet smile is brightening Heaven I’m sure.

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ninetoesjudd
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:55pm
Silly wabbit, it’s not gun violence; it’s Chicago gang violence.

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modelmax
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 7:35pm
Will FLOTUS and all these other folk be attending the memorial service for American hero, Chris Kyle? Just askin’.

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rbolt
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 6:12pm
How low is Obama going to sink. Sending Moochelle to this young girl’s funeral to further his gun control agenda. Does everything have to be political? I guess with Obama the answer is yes.

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BlasberryStrat
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 3:42pm
I wonder if these same “high profile” people even thought of mearly popping their heads in to the 20 other unknown / un-named funerals of murdered teens in Chicago going on that same day! But those ‘gang kids’ must not matter to Jackson and Oprah. After all, they got what they deserved right? But the ONE kid out of the probable 20+ that were murdered just during that week in Chicago is WORTH America stopping for, because of ONE REASON – she “sang” for Oby. This MUST be the “Utopia” that Obama wants.

And you can bet your Aunt Marry’s panties that Michelle, Oprah, Jackson, and the others didn’t even know this girl sang for Oby until they were told.

To you bleeding hearts: If you think these uber weathy – high profile actually CARE about this one girl, or for your one tiny life, you are as nuts as the agenda you (and they) stand for! “Occupy” was all about “taking down the rich & powerful”, yet it must be “Occupy’s” choice as to “who stays and who goes”. After all, where would this Country be without Oprah, Jackson, Sharpton, and ‘Bama”. IF you (Liberals) want “FAIR”, then you are required to take down ALL. You don’t get to choose who’s head you chop and who is “safe” (like a reality show). Bet most of you Libs never really thought of this while marching and banging the ol’ bongo’s. Here’s one, if YOU want “Oprah” safe – then WE choose that “Trump” is safe. Now where’s the saying “Fair is fair”. Hey!

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BlasberryStrat
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 3:16pm
This was a well planned shot to forward an agenda – period. We have an Administration who believes the Country is over populated and “needs leaning out”, along with their ideals of “what’s a few civilian casualties to complete the agenda FOR THE GREATER GOOD”.

Girl got shot – very sad (I’m not heartless). Particular ‘target’ – planned. High power people at that funeral – calendar’s ‘cleared’ in advance for this “project”. Not caring about the ‘child’, but ‘using’ her to push harder for gun ban – planned.

“Tin Foil”? Maybe. But truly “think” how the people pushing the gun ban agenda are the SAME people who think nothing of a cold – calculated – drone attack / killing of whom ever they choose (now legal to kill American citizens), then BOAST about “taking out the bad people”. As long as THEIR finger is not on the trigger, there is NO value of one or a few human lives vs. “fundamental changes” planned for AmeriMexiCanada. Remember, there IS an on going agenda within the U.N. to take down the borders of U.S., Mexico, and Canada, and “fundamentally change” for a “new America”. Even Bush Jr. was working on the currency issue with the U.N., and it is widely know to BOTH parties.

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pavepaws
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:47pm
Father Michael Pfleger, ha ha ha ha. A perfect example with what is wrong with society. He and the other “prominent” morons who showed up to shed tears for a photo op. Sandy Hook is over so they can get some mileage out of Hadiya.

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MCLOVINIT
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:47pm
“What difference does it make?” – Hillary Clinton

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:45pm
“Gang violence” you FOOLS! GANG VIOLENCE! Why do you shield “gang violence”? Could it be that ‘gang violence’ is favorable to you, over “Gun rights”?
You LIE moosehell. Jackson- THIS is the World YOU Created. Jackson, obama, sharpton and anyone else who “organized” this community are to blame before all else. I submit to you that if n one of the above were ever born, this child would be alive. Obama is alive, the Girl is dead.
It is the obama doctrine *sharpton/jackson/alinsky that this girl died. It is the World THEY created.

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Fitzzz
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:35pm
Blacks commit more violent crimes than whites do
, so lets just say it

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