Thousands Gather To Say Goodbye To Veteran Journalist Gwen Ifill

First lady Michelle Obama was joined by thousands Saturday to celebrate journalist Gwen Ifill — where she was remembered by fellow journalists, politicos, friends and family.

Ifill passed away Monday from uterine cancer. The service was held at Ifill’s longtime church, the historic Metropolitan A.M.E. Church. Although the service was a remembrance of Gwen Ifill the friend, sister, daughter and friend, it was not lost on many that her passing was a blow to the journalism community at a time when her presence and guidance would be most needed.

“Will you cower?” Former Attorney General Eric Holder asked her colleagues in the audience. “Will you normalize that which is anything but?”

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Holder also read a letter from President Obama, who was outside the country in Peru.

Today we honor @gwenifill's tremendous legacy - her dedication, grace & bright smile. She made us all want to be better.

— Valerie Jarrett (@vj44) November 19, 2016

It was an honor to honor #GwenIfill today.What an outpouring of love! Thank you to all who attended & celebrated w/us pic.twitter.com/p2UefNx6pE

— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) November 19, 2016

Others in attendance included civil rights attorney Vernon Jordan, Donna Brazile, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, veteran journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, New York Times columnist David Brooks, former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw, Donald Trump surrogate Omarosa Manigault, and NAACP Legal Defense Fund President Sherrilynn Ifill — her younger cousin.