On Saturday, as mourners gathered to mark the death of Timothy Caughman, who was stabbed to death in a racist attack, Mayor Bill de Blasio blasted the attack as one that targeted New York itself.
“He was attacked because of who he was, plain and simple,” de Blasio said during his eulogy for the service at the Mount Zion Baptist Church. “Eight-and-a-half million people were attacked that night.”
In continuing his comments, de Blasio pointed out that Caughman had a love of life that deeply contrasted with the brutal way he died: “He understood what was good around us. He obviously had love for his fellow human being … He only wanted to do good and be good.”
–James Jackson gets terrorism charge for Timothy Caughman’s murder–
“That ability to talk to anyone and everyone at all times about anything — well, that makes him a true New Yorker, don’t you think?” he said. “He grew up in faith, and carried that with him.”
City Public Advocate Letitia James also spoke at the funeral and encouraged those in attendance to pray for James Jackson, the man who attacked Caughman and who has thus far been entirely unrepentant.
“We pray for that man and we pray for all of those individuals who unfortunately are sickened by hate,” James said. “We recognize that ignorance is the cousin of hate.” She went on to call for justice for Caughman before adding, “Death has no sting to it. The only thing that has sting is hate.”