'Living funeral,' march held for mother questioning police account of son's death at Duquesne
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
An empty casket is carried during procession for Dannielle Brown’s “living funeral” in Pittsburgh’s Hill District on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown speaks in front of a mural honoring her son, Marquis Jaylen Brown, during a procession for her “living funeral” in near Duquesne University in Pittsburgh on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown speaks during a “living funeral” at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown speaks in front of Duquesne University during a procession for her “living funeral” on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown becomes emotional after laying a wreath in front of Duquesne University’s Brottier Hall during a procession for her “living funeral” on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
People take part in a living funeral event for Dannielle Brown in Uptown Pittsburgh on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of Brown’s hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Jalina McClarin yells into a bullhorn mic during a procession for Dannielle Brown’s “living funeral” in Uptown Pittsburgh on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Protesters raise their fists in solidarity in front of a mural honoring Marquis Jaylen Brown during a procession for his mother Dannielle Brown’s “living funeral” in near Duquesne University in Pittsburgh on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of Dannielle Brown’s hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown pauses in front of an empty casket during a procession for her “living funeral” in Uptown Pittsburgh on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown becomes emotional after laying a wreath in front of Duquesne University’s Brottier Hall during a procession for her “living funeral” on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Protesters, including Allegheny County Councilwoman Liv Bennett (middle) raise their fists in solidarity during a “living funeral” for Dannielle Brown at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of Brown’s hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown leads a procession during her “living funeral” at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dannielle Brown speaks in front of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh during a procession for her “living funeral” on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of her hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Dasia Clemons and her daughter Harmony Bozman, 6, take part in a “living funeral” for Dannielle Brown in Uptown Pittsburgh on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The event marked the 34th day of Brown’s hunger strike as she looks for answers to questions surrounding her son Marquis Jaylen Brown’s death at Duquesne University two years ago.
A “living funeral” and march were held Thursday as Dannielle Brown continues her search for answers in her son’s death at Duquesne University nearly two years ago.
The event began at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where Brown has been staging a hunger strike since July 4. From there, “pallbearers,” carrying an empty casket, led a procession through Uptown, past a mural honoring her son, Marquis Jaylen Brown, and then to Duquesne University’s Brottier Hall where a wreath was laid in his memory.
Police say Marquis Brown jumped to his death from his dorm room on the 16th floor of Brottier Hall in October 2018.
Dannielle Brown wants Duquesne University to release information to her third-party investigator in an effort to get answers about what led her son to jump.
Kristina Serafini is a TribLive photojournalist covering Southwestern Pennsylvania. She is a Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate. Her work has been honored locally and nationally. She can be reached at kserafini@triblive.com.
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