Female Pastor Shot By Police While Praying

oge okonkwo

August 15, 2014 4:32 PM

Pastor Lamkin was hit in the stomach by a rubber bullet, sShe showed her injury to bystanders who the posted it online

A female pastor who was holding a peaceful protest in Ferguson, Missouri was hit by a rubber bullet fired by police while chanting "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."

Renita Lamkin a pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal church was with the huge crowd protesting the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown who was shot to death while unarmed three days ago.

She told Huffington post that she was "standing in the middle of the street, with people behind me, and the police were in front of me."

As tensions grew, she says that she was trying to mediate a peaceful separation of police and protesters.

"They're moving, they're leaving," she told police, who wanted the group to disperse. "And then there was a pop!"

Pastor Lamkin was hit in the stomach by a rubber bullet. She showed her injury to bystanders who the posted it online.

The photo has since gone causing an outcry among social media users who are beginning to question police procedures.

Lamkin noted that her goal was "for everybody to go home … the police and the people. We're not here to fight the police. We're here to fight the system. All people want is to be validated, to know their lives have value. People just want their voices to be heard. The people are hurting, and they need to be heard. And if you don't give people the opportunity to be heard, they'll take the opportunity to be heard. Love people, love people. Listen to them."

oge okonkwo