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Why the Mothers of the Movement's DNC speech brought us to tears.
Too many mothers have had to bury too many children due to gun violence. These moms are trying to change that.
07.27.16
611.
That's how many people have been killed by police in 2016.
300.
That's the number of homicides that occurred in Chicago by Father's Day 2016.
<p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>In America, our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, and friends <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/14/upshot/compare-these-gun-death-rates-the-us-is-in-a-different-world.html" target="_blank">are dying from gun and police violence at a staggering rate</a>.<br></p><h2 style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'>During the Democratic National Convention, several mothers whose children have been victims of gun violence made it clear that enough is enough.</h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space">The</span> Mothers of the Movement are like most moms: hard-working, caring parents who never dreamed they would lose a child.<strong> But their stories are also unique and incredibly important.</strong></p><p><div id="upworthyFreeStarVideoAdContainer"><div id="freestar-video-parent"><div id="freestar-video-child"></div></div></div></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>The Mothers of the Movement are moms who have lost children to police brutality and gun violence. They have come together to unite against gun violence in the U.S. </p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><strong></strong><span class="redactor-invisible-space">Tonight, their emotional stories helped illustrate how far we have still to go in this country. </span></p><h2 rel='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;' style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'>The Mothers of the Movement led their DNC segment with a tear-jerking speech by Geneva Reed-Veal, Sandra Bland's mother.</h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>She talked about how gun violence and the lack of gun control in the U.S. have torn apart her life and the lives of the other mothers in the group.</p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>"This isn’t about being politically correct. This is about saving our children," Sybrina Fulton said to rousing applause.</p><p><strong>Who exactly are the Mothers of the Movement?</strong></p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><strong><em></em></strong></p><h2 style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'>Meet Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mom.<br></h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc0NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjY4MzQ3OX0.7p1ohaoEheakVE2f_xTujguUHEDlQoT9RylV7mWNAx4/img.jpg?width=980" id="adea0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="78ed86ba630f6a36de948d9013f8b2cf" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p><p class="image-caption" style='margin: -10px 0px 15px; font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; color: rgb(173, 173, 173); font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>Photos by The Young Turks/<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01oZP4gCtog" target="_blank">YouTube</a> (left), Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Jazz in the Gardens (right).<br></p><strong></strong><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>Trayvon Martin, 17, was a high-schooler walking home with a can of tea and a packet of Skittles when George Zimmerman shot him. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder in 2013. He <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/george-zimmerman-gun-auction_us_573fb7abe4b00e09e89f2834" target="_blank">auctioned the gun used to kill Martin</a> for $250,000.</p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">During the DNC, Fulton explained why she decided to share her story and join the Mothers of the Movement group.</span></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">"I am an unwilling participant in this movement," she said. "I would not have signed up for this, nor any other mother that is standing here today.<strong> But I am here today for my son, Trayvon Martin, who is in heaven, but also for his brother, Jahvaris Fulton, who is still here on Earth.</strong> I did not want this spotlight, but I will do everything I can to focus some of this light on the pain of a path out of the darkness." </span></p><h2>Meet Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan Davis.</h2><p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc0Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDU0MzI3MX0.M2w0L4aXQuCHCIHUcU_fYA5gxG_488qiwyiV0ZJYmpo/img.jpg?width=980" id="4cfcc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="da1d455e696001eea32c09ff39fa42bb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p><p class="image-caption">Photos by The New York Times/<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-nvcEXoTMs" target="_blank">YouTube</a> (left), Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2016 Essence Festival <span class="redactor-invisible-space">(right).<br></span></p><p>Jordan Davis, 17, was a teenager sitting in a car with friends <a href="http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2016/06/michael-dunn-who-fatally-shot-17-year-old-jordan-davis-in-loud-music-case-appeals-murder-conviction/" target="_blank">when he was shot by Michael Dunn</a>, who was upset that their music was too loud. Dunn was found guilty of first-degree murder and given a life sentence without parole.</p><p><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z"></span></p><p>During the DNC, McBath said she doesn't want other parents to live in fear of what happened to her son. "I lived in fear that my son would die like this," she said. "I even warned him that because he was a young black man, he would meet people who didn't value him or his life. <strong>That is a conversation that no parent should ever have with their child."</strong></p><h2>Meet Geneva Reed-Veal, mother of Sandra Bland.</h2><p><span class="redactor-invisible-space"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzE5OTA0OH0.wt4VtJFcv2c_tDegz1WqWTF8xG6b8-OlrTb-tIcY1js/img.jpg?width=980" id="d163a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ec1e40ab441f87e136aa7197275113d2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><span class="redactor-invisible-space"><br></span></span></p><p class="image-caption"><span class="redactor-invisible-space"><span class="redactor-invisible-space">Photos by CDF/<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf6bmVHBvKc" target="_blank">YouTube</a> (left), Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images<span class="redactor-invisible-space"> (right).</span></span></span></p><p><span class="redactor-invisible-space">Sandra Bland, 28, was an outspoken activist with a degree in agriculture from Prairie View A&M University. Bland <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2015/07/21/waller-county-press-conference/" target="_blank">was arrested during what should have been a routine traffic stop</a>. Three days later, she was found hanged to death in her cell at the Waller County Jail.</span></p><p>Bland's death was ruled a suicide, but many have noted the brutal arrest preceding Bland's death by state trooper Brian Encinia and the edited dashcam footage that was released. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/us/sandra-bland-trooper-brian-encinia-indicted/" target="_blank">Encinia has been indicted for perjury</a>, and thus dismissed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.</p><p><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">"When a young black life is cut short, it’s not just a loss," Reed-Veal said at the DNC. "It’s a personal loss.<strong> It’s a national loss. It’s a loss that diminishes all of us." </strong></span></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Several other Mothers of the Movement did not speak at the DNC, but they stood on stage to support the three who did. </strong></p><h2>Meet Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontré Hamilton.</h2><p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjkyOTMzN30.8dVJNWdc2-_4m2vvbr66iROMB3rkSI4ddE_E6wqjsDg/img.jpg?width=980" id="c4bda" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5d2c7d48e81405e535500733b8bb5e4d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p><p class="image-caption">Photos by Mashable/<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXnWJsZFC3c" target="_blank">YouTube</a> (left), Mark Makela/Getty Images (right).</p><p><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z"></span></p><p>Dontré Hamilton, 31, was a son and uncle. He was unarmed and <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/mikehayes/the-sad-slow-march-to-justice-for-maria-hamilton?utm_term=.pbMA02e69#.ndO7Eb321" target="_blank">had been treated for paranoid schizophrenia</a>. Officer Christopher Manney shot Hamilton multiple times. Manney was never charged and was eventually fired from the Milwaukee Police Department.</p><h2 style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'>Meet Gwen Carr, Eric Garner's mother.</h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTMxOTEyNn0.HHMvuOtu0tiUp7YjZKK8K3jIzRxG32fBDtzBoHAxfeA/img.jpg?width=980" id="0ccc1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="637da9557035d122219a5f1891408e8b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p><p class="image-caption" style='margin: -10px 0px 15px; font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; color: rgb(173, 173, 173); font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>Photos by The Young Turks/<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR5m9GeQJJE" target="_blank">YouTube</a> (left), Spencer Platt/Getty Images (right).</p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>Eric, a son and beloved father, was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/nyregion/eric-garner-police-chokehold-staten-island.html" target="_blank">confronted</a> by police for selling loose cigarettes in Staten Island, New York. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/08/nypd-sergeant-charged-eric-garner-case/78532476/" target="_blank">Several police officers surrounded Garner</a>. Officer <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/nyregion/eric-garner-police-chokehold-staten-island.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Daniel Pantaleo used a banned chokehold</a> to restrain Garner, who yelled "I can't breathe" multiple times in an effort to plea with officers. Unfortunately, it was to no avail, and the chokehold ultimately killed him.</p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>A Richmond County grand jury decided not to indict Pantaleo in 2014.</p><h2 style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'><i></i>Meet Lezley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown.<br></h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc1MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzAyNzM5NH0.cE9EG6OObGmiDp8tqPWABQwf0Ptwn4LiUyUKPu-oP-s/img.jpg?width=980" id="943c9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="64235206886edcfb6ed788d758c9a4dc" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p><p class="image-caption" style='margin: -10px 0px 15px; font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; color: rgb(173, 173, 173); font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>Photos by AMTV/<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAhEPIXpLJs" target="_blank">YouTube</a> (left), Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images<span class="redactor-invisible-space"> (right).</span></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space">Michael Brown, 18, had just graduated and had plans to go to college. Officer Darren Wilson <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/08/13/us/ferguson-missouri-town-under-siege-after-police-shooting.html" target="_blank">shot the unarmed Brown several times</a> after, witnesses said, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/08/08/430411141/whether-history-or-hype-hands-up-dont-shoot-endures" target="_blank">Brown held up his hands</a> in submission. The U.S. Department of Justice cleared him of any wrongdoing and cleared him of violating any of Brown's rights.</span></p><h2 rel='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;' style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'>Meet Cleopatra Pendleton-Cowley, mother of Hadiya Pendleton.</h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTQ1NDUwOX0.kwEvbeDv8KZB-Rx7vcWIb627K8yPSD7mxP0YTZj_PCM/img.jpg?width=980" id="20488" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="50e9a24733c6769ac789949fbed08e58" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><span class="redactor-invisible-space"><br></span></span></p><p class="image-caption" style='margin: -10px 0px 15px; font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; color: rgb(173, 173, 173); font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space">Photos by OutLaw4/YouTube (left) Scott Olson/Getty Images<span class="redactor-invisible-space"> (right).<br></span></span></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space">Hadiya Pendleton, 15, <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hadiya-pendleton-murder-teen-girl-who-performed-at-president-obamas-inauguration-fatally-shot-at-chicago-park-report-says/" target="_blank">had just performed with her school at events for President Obama's second inauguration</a> when <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-hadiya-pendleton-killing-court-met-20160322-story.html" target="_blank">she was caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting</a> in Chicago. Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, were arrested on several charges, including attempted murder and first-degree murder. They said the bullets were intended for a rival gang, not Pendleton.</span></p><h2 rel='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;' style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'>Meet Annette Nance-Holt, mother of Blair Holt.<br></h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc1Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNTg2NDc5N30.A9oViM5OOlVO1Z13VZSucKrnk8reC1Oy29Xq2se8fLM/img.jpg?width=980" id="8d87b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="69438ae9f68644be332550c07e6ac467" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p><p class="image-caption" style='margin: -10px 0px 15px; font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; color: rgb(173, 173, 173); font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>Photos by Joseph Latimore/YouTube (left), Scott Olson/Getty Images (right).</p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><em></em></p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">Blair Holt, 16, was <span class="attrlink url author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z"><a class="attrlink" data-target-href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-blair-holt-sentence-overturned-met-20150916-story.html" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-blair-holt-sentence-overturned-met-20150916-story.html" target="_blank">killed trying to protect a friend</a></span> on a <span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">Chicago</span> bus. <span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">F</span><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">our other teens were injured</span> in the <span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">gang</span><span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">-</span><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">related shooting. H</span><span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">olt</span> was an honor student and beloved classmate and son. His killer, Michael Pace, <span class="attrlink url author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z"><a class="attrlink" data-target-href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-07-21/news/0907200506_1_prison-killer-bus" href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-07-21/news/0907200506_1_prison-killer-bus" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">was sentenced to 100 years in prison</a></span><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">.</span></span></p><h2 data-usually-unique-id="956492658" rel='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;' style='margin-top: 2em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 26px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: VllgRegular, "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif !important; background: none;'>Meet Wanda Johnson, mother of Oscar Grant.</h2><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTc1My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTg5MjQwMn0.qjy9CzbUcvpqIJ-We1OXThCDdzmPWscbnNk7QMVWGB0/img.jpg?width=980" id="f039e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="eda60031d90893933ffa584b3fd5a5f2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p><p class="image-caption" style='margin: -10px 0px 15px; font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; color: rgb(173, 173, 173); font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">Photo</span><span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">s</span> by The Young Turks/<span class="attrlink url author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z"><a class="attrlink" data-target-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46IQfVIAl8Y" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46IQfVIAl8Y" target="_blank">YouTube</a></span> (left), SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images (right<span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">).</span></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><em></em></p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">Oscar Grant, 22, was unarmed <span class="attrlink url author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z"><a class="attrlink" data-target-href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/06/26/oscar-grant-iiis-aunt-killed-2nd-person-injured-in-oakland-shooting/" href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/06/26/oscar-grant-iiis-aunt-killed-2nd-person-injured-in-oakland-shooting/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">when he was shot and killed by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle</a></span> in Oakland, California<span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">. <span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">Grant</span> was beloved in his community and was <span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">coming home after ringing</span> in <span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">the</span> new year with friends when he was killed in 2009<span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">. His brutal <span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">killing</span> was captured on camera and was portrayed in the award-winning film <span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">“</span><span class=" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9uz86zjz88z5z79ziz84zz76z6z78zio9rbz70z3z79zz70zz70zz70zhz81zudz79zz90z">Fruitvale Station.</span><span class=" author-d-gz71zz89zz86zqz85zz83zsyvz122zz73zz79zz80zcs9xg0z89zfz77zuez84zxt2fz72zz82zz87zbz68zz122z4z81zplz85zz87z4bz66zz72z">”</span> Mehserle was convicted of second-degree murder but got an early release from prison just a year into his sentence.</span></span></span></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space"></span></p><h2>These mothers' words were captivating, emotional, and heartbreaking.</h2><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space">They shouldn't have to speak like this, but they did. And they spoke to remind us, through their words, that we have the power to change this. In November, we can use our right to vote to demand action and reject complacency. </span></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'><span class="redactor-invisible-space">"So many of our children are gone, but they are not forgotten," </span>Reed-Veal, Sandra Bland's mother, said. "Sandy cannot speak, but I am here to speak for her. <strong>What a blessing to be here tonight so that Sandy can still speak through her mama. And what a blessing for us that we have the opportunity to cast our vote."</strong><strong></strong></p><p rel='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;' style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>"We're going to keep telling our stories, and we're urging you to say their names," said McBath. </p><p style='margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; border: none; box-shadow: none; font-family: "Avenir Next", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; background: none;'>By saying their names, we can honor the voices of those who can no longer speak, just like the Mothers of the Movement. But beyond that, we can also help shape a future that no longer requires this discussion.</p>
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