Mothers of children killed in racial violence take plea for reform to DNC

PHILADELPHIA, July 26 (UPI) -- A group of mothers of children who were killed in incidents of racially charged violence addressed the Democratic Nation Convention on Tuesday, pleading for reforms in law enforcement and urging support for Hillary Clinton.

Delegates were shown a moving video of the women meeting with Clinton in which she encouraged the women to organize and bring their fight to the American people. They created the group Mothers of the Movement.

Members include the mothers of Trayvon Martin, 17, who was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida; Sandra Bland, 28, who was found hanged in a Texas jail cell after her arrest during a traffic stop; Eric Garner, who died in New York during an arrest; Jordan Davis, 17, who was shot in Florida over a dispute over loud music.

At Clinton's nominating convention, they stood next to one another wearing black dresses and bright red corsages, imploring delegates and voters at home to remember their children and commit to ending violence and racial injustice.

"You don't stop being a mom when your child dies. I am still Jordan Davis' mother," Lucy McBath said. "I lived in fear that my son would die like this. I even warned him that, because he was a young black man he would meet people who didn't value him or his life. That is a conversation no parent should ever have with their child."

She told voters Clinton is the only presidential candidate who listened to their stories.

"Hillary Clinton isn't afraid to say that Black Lives Matter. She isn't afraid to sit at a table with grieving mothers and bear the full weight of our anguish."

Geneva Reed-Veal, Bland's mother, told the convention Clinton understands the full implications of systemic violence killing young people of color.

"I am here with Hillary Clinton tonight because she is a leader and a mother who will say our children's names. She knows that when a young black life is cut short it's not just a loss, it's a personal loss, it's a national loss. It's a loss that diminishes all of us," Reed-Veal said.

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon's mother, praised Clinton as willing to fight for political change on behalf of grieving mothers in the black community.

"This isn't about being politically correct; this is about saving our children. That's why we are here, tonight, with Hillary Clinton. And that's why, in memory of our children, we are imploring you, all of you, to vote this Election Day."