Mothers of Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland and Other Fallen Children Support Hillary at DNC

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Appearing to a chant of “black lives matter,” the mothers of several slain black men and women took the stage at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night.

Among them was Geneva Reed-Veal, whose 28-year-old daughter was found dead in a Texas jail cell after being pulled over for an improper lane change. That traffic stop led to an arrest for Sandra Bland, formerly of Naperville, as she and the officer began arguing.

Three days later she was dead.

Since then, her mother has been a vocal opponent to police brutality within the African-American community.

“I am here with Hillary Clinton tonight because she is a leader and mother who will say our children’s name,” Reed-Veal said.

She appeared with several other women, known as the "Mothers of the Movement." Their children were gunned down, choked to death by police or otherwise killed.

Joining her was Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; Lucy McBath, mother of Jordan Davis; Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Cleopatra Pendelton, mother of Hadiya Pendleton; Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton; Lezley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown; and Wanda Johnson, mother of Oscar Grant.

In 2013, Hadiya Pendleton of Chicago performed with her King College Prep High School band at inaugural events for President Obama's second term. A few weeks later, the 15-year-old girl was shot to death while taking shelter with other kids beneath a canopy in a Chicago park by a man who jumped a fence, fired into the group and fled the scene in a car. Two men were arrested, and they later told police they shot at the wrong group of people.

The 15-year-old girl was shot once in the back and died an hour later at University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital.

Several of the teenagers she was standing near were believed to have gang affiliations. Hadiya was an honor student, volleyball player and majorette at King College Prep High School.

The president spoke of Hadiya at his inauguration. She was shot less than a mile from the Obamas' Hyde Park home.

Fulton said she is an unwilling participant in the movement. Her son, Trayvon Martin, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman in February 2012.

He was later found not guilty on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges.

"I would not have signed up for this," Fulton said, "or any other mother that's standing here with me. I am here today for my son, Trayvon Martin, who is in heaven."

She didn't want the spotlight, but will do what she can to focus some of the light on a path out of the darkness.

"Hillary Clinton has the compassion and understanding to support grieving mothers. She has the courage to lead the fight for common sense gun legislation."

This isn't about being politically correct, she said.

"This is about saving our children. That's why we're here tonight with Hillary Clinton."

Reed-Veal wants the same. Bland was the fourth of five daughters born to her. A year ago Monday, she watched as her baby’s body was buried. And with that, she was gone.

“Not on administrative leave, but on permanent leave,” she said.

She supports Clinton because she knows that the loss of a black life is a national loss.

“It’s a loss that diminishes all of us,” she said. “What a blessing tonight to be standing here so that Sandy can still speak through her mama.”

The women who joined her on stage and all those who have lost their children due to police or gun violence have an opportunity for change, she said.

“We gotta seize it, to cast our votes for a president who will help lead us down the path toward restoration and change,” she said.

It’s a message she’s been spreading since her daughter’s death. In January, she spoke to the Chicago Police Board over the lack of answers she’s received in her daughter’s death. In February, she joined Hillary Clinton at a Chicago campaign stop.

“Selfless in sitting down with a roomful of mourning mothers,” Geneva Reed-Veal said of Clinton at the time. “I’m one of those mothers.”