Sandra Bland's Mom Lends Support to Clinton Campaign

CHICAGO, IL — The mother of Sandra Bland will be appearing with Hillary Clinton during a Feb. 17 voter event in Chicago.

According to the Associated Press, Clinton is trying to gain support with minority voters.

“African-American parents shouldn’t have to worry that their children will be harassed, humiliated and even shot because of the color of their skin. Immigrant families shouldn’t have to lie awake at night listening for a knock on the door,” Clinton said in a Tuesday night concession speech, as reported by the Associated Press.

Bland was arrested July 10 after becoming confrontational during a traffic stop. She was found dead in her Texas jail cell three days later. Bland, a former Naperville resident, was in Texas to begin a new job at Prairie View A&M University.

In a July 2015 CNN article, Clinton said that the circumstances of Bland’s death are “incredibly disturbing.”

“Sandra Bland had a bright future ahead of her and it is particularly tragic that she lost her life just as she was to start her new career,” Clinton said in the article.

Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, addressed the Chicago Police Board in January to talk about the lack of answers not only in her daughter’s death, but in the deaths of other minorities.

“We’re asked to wait for years, months, while your people are allowed to do all of what they want to do. They’re on administrative leave. Our people aren’t on administrative leave,” Reed-Veal said at the meeting. “They’re gone.”

The Texas trooper who arrested Bland has since been indicted for perjury and fired.

Trooper Brian Encinia had said in a report that he pulled Bland from her car to continue the investigation, but a dash cam video shows he pulled her from her car after she denied his request to put out a cigarette.