Hundreds pack Andy Lopez funeral Mass

The shooting has sparked almost daily demonstrations, marches and vigils in Santa Rosa, with many decrying police brutality and accusing the deputy who shot Lopez of using excessive force.

A few hours before Tuesday's Mass, noon rallies were held at Old Courthouse Square and Santa Rosa Junior College. Both groups eventually joined up at SRJC and more than 1,000 people marched down Mendocino Avenue to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office in the county administration complex.

Another march, planned for 5 p.m. Wednesday, will take protesters from the old Albertsons shopping center on Sebastopol Road to Old Courthouse Square.

Tuesday's service drew all five members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

"We have a lot of work to do in moving forward," Board Chairman David Rabbitt said following the Mass. "Like the priest said, we have to redouble our efforts to define the type of community we want to live in."

At Tuesday's funeral Mass, Lopez's parents stood before the altar, next to their son's closed coffin, which was covered in white fabric. For the duration of the service, the boy's mother, Sujey Lopez, lay her arms over the coffin with her head against it. The boy's father, Rodrigo Lopez, stood next to her, comforting her.

The boy's parents did not attend Tuesday's march to the Sheriff's Office because they were meeting with their attorney, according to Andy Lopez's uncle, Clemente Lopez. The parents are expected to attend today's march, he said.

Clemente Lopez said Tuesday night that burial arrangements have not been finalized.

Vicar General Msgr. Daniel Whelton of the Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese, who attended the Mass as a representative of Bishop Robert Vasa, offered a prayer for the Lopez family, for all those who have died young and for all parents who have "lost a child in an untimely manner."

Father Jose Gonzalez, who conducted the bulk of the Mass in Spanish, said Lopez had been called to God's kingdom and that he is now among God's angels.

"We need to be prepared, age does not matter, we need to be prepared," Gonzalez said.

Father Oscar Diaz, director of Hispanic ministry, echoed what several demonstrators have depicted on posters.

"Father Jose is right," he said. "Our friend Andy is now an angel.

At the end of the Mass, as Lopez's coffin was slowly brought out of the church and placed into the hearse, a tearful crowd followed.

Rabbitt, the Board of Supervisors chairman, said that as part of the "healing process," next week the board will publicly consider such issues as the investigation and renewed calls for citizens review of policing.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.