The mothers who lost Trayvon, Eric, Sandra, Jordan, and Dontre are supporting Clinton.

[Cha]

Jamil Smith
✔ ??@JamilSmith
The mothers who lost Trayvon, Eric, Sandra, Jordan, and Dontre are supporting Clinton. Read this @jmsummers report. http://on.mash.to/1LD8Xoy
1:20 PM - 22 Feb 2016
They lost Trayvon, Eric, Sandra, Jordan, Dontre. Now these mothers are with Hillary.
"I got up and turned my mourning into a movement, my sorrow into a strategy."
mashable.com
194 194 Retweets 184 184 likes

kerry washington
✔ ??@kerrywashington
Powerful read. https://twitter.com/jamilsmith/status/701909535905202176 …
1:28 PM - 22 Feb 2016
287 287 Retweets 504 504 likes


SUMTER, S.C. — As rain pelted the rooftop of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist church on Monday afternoon, five mothers — united both in their grief and their purpose — came to share their stories.

The women, from five different cities, had each lost a child to a high-profile case of violence. And each had thrown her support behind Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"I got up and turned my mourning into a movement, my sorrow into a strategy," said Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who was killed by police on Staten Island in July 2014.

In South Carolina, the majority of Democrats casting a ballot in Saturday's primary will be black, and so far, Clinton is holding a sizable lead over rival Bernie Sanders.

Though their faces and voices have been on loop on cable news and their names chanted at protests around the country, the women said they didn't want to be activists, but the deaths of their children had changed them.

"I was Dontre's mother turned activist turned a mother of the movement," said Maria Hamilton, whose son died after he was shot by a former Milwaukee police officer.

end snip//

Carr's granddaughter, Erica Garner, campaigned in South Carolina last week on the Vermont senator's behalf. Asked by a reporter whether she'd tried to persuade Garner to change her mind, Carr said she hadn't "because you know how young people are."

"They believe, you know, sometimes they get fed something and they believe it, you know," Carr said. "Only thing I said, was do your research."

Please read the whole rest of their poignant story~http://mashable.com/2016/02/22/hillary-clinton-mothers-violence/#.oLZTepgi05W

The Obama Diary~ http://theobamadiary.com/2016/02/22/a-tweet-or-two-342/

[font color=blue]Hillary's Group~Mahalo~[/font]

[Lucinda]

1. They are such impressive women.

To take such deep personal tragedy and give it meaning and purpose for the betterment of others is extraordinary.
I'm not sure i'd have that kind of strength.

[Cha]

2. I'm not sure I would either, Lucinda~ These Brave women have my utmost admiration

for what they have had to go through. No child should have to go before their parents. It would be unfathomable sorrow and pain.

But, here they are together as a force of nature turning their sorrow into something positive to make sure their sons and daughters did not get killed in vain. Speaking out so other Mothers do not have to go through that unbearable sadness.

[riversedge]

3. And a big 5th REC

[Cha]

5. Mahalo riversedge~ The incredibly strong Mothera of these precious kids thank you!

[Iliyah]

4. K & R

[sheshe2]

6. Tears for their loss

Heartbreaking Cha.

[Cha]

7. Tears for their loss, she.. and cheers for their strength.. they are the very defintiion of

strength and beauty.

"We are challenging, basically, our communities to stand up and to vote, to mobilize and to move and to act. Hillary Clinton can not do this work for herself," said Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan Davis, the 17-year-old high school junior killed in the parking lot of a Florida convenience store during a dispute over loud music."

Did you see this, she?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110752827

[sheshe2]

8. Kicking for now

Gotta go.

[Cha]

9. Sweet dreams and please

return.

[stonecutter357]

10. K&R!

[workinclasszero]

11. So sorry for your loss ladies

[Cha]

12. They are amazing, working.. they've formed a bond and have transformed their grief into action..

Last edited Tue Feb 23, 2016, 09:25 AM - Edit history (1)

"We are challenging, basically, our communities to stand up and to vote, to mobilize and to move and to act. Hillary Clinton can not do this work for herself," said Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan Davis, the 17-year-old high school junior killed in the parking lot of a Florida convenience store during a dispute over loud music."

If you have time to read the whole thing it's well worth your time.. not that long. It goes rather fast because it's riveting.

Mahalo~

[workinclasszero]

18. They are amazing

[DemonGoddess]

13. K&R!

These women are incredibly strong in the face of their respective losses. I simply cannot imagine what it is they go through, every day.

I like what Ms. Carr had to say, which was to do your research. Believe it or not, that does work with the young ones! IF they're willing to take the time to do it, they see things in a different light. As an observation within my own household, by the way, the research made my daughter switch to Hillary, while my son is still sitting on the fence and leaning Bernie (minimum wage thing, and he's indulging in tunnel vision). I asked him again, after a bit of an argument, to please REALLY look at the proposals, both sides on the big issue which has him fired up. And then to look at what a more measured approach can do, as opposed to "do it NOOOOOW" regardless, as to whether or not it's workable as "do it now". The funny thing is, that he agrees with most of what HILLARY has to say and how to implement, except this one point where he has tunnel vision.

[Cha]

15. Good for you, DG, working on your kids with the whole.. "please do your research".. they

would find that it can't be done with the US Congress. There are no magic cures or revolutionary politics.

The first time caucus voters in Nevada were in the majority for Hillary.

I like this passage..

"We are challenging, basically, our communities to stand up and to vote, to mobilize and to move and to act. Hillary Clinton can not do this work for herself," said Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan Davis, the 17-year-old high school junior killed in the parking lot of a Florida convenience store during a dispute over loud music."

[DemonGoddess]

59. I've found that

if you approach the younger ones by engaging their minds, instead of their emotions, it actually gives results.

[BlueCaliDem]

16. My son was leaning Bernie as well...and a few other young ones in my group. I told them,

remember, it's better to have one bird in the hand than two Bernies in the bush. With Hillary, you know she can get it done. With Bernie's $15 minimum wage, you're still left to wonder with an almost 0 chance to happening. Hillary is telling us what Congressional Dems are helping move through Congress: a $12 p/hr Federal min. wage.

Whole States and counties are fighting for a minimum wage hike to $15 (most likely where Bernie got his info from where unions are), but we need to do something at the Federal level. It's still at a paltry $7.25, and that needs to change. A $12 min. wage is for small businesses (not the Koch Bros's kind of small businesses, but real Mom&Pops) are already hard to meet.

Yes, I know. Give people more money and they'll spend and a rising tide lifts all boats. But with congressional Democrats already pushing a bill through Congress that wants to raise the min. wage to $12, it's what they feel can realistically be done. This doesn't, in any way, stop the more affluent counties and cities in our country that can raise minimum wages to wherever they want, however high businesses can afford. But you can't compare the economies in San Francisco to a small town in Georgia.

A $12 p/hr is a good start. In the United States, change comes incrementally, not overnight.

[Cha]

22. Thank you for all your resonableness, BlueCali

How the Moms feel about Hillary.. I should have put this in the OP..


"Clinton, the women all agreed, had been the only candidate to reach out to them. That fact was stressed again and again in the more than an hour they spent here, speaking to a small group of mostly black voters.

Geneva Reed-Veal — the mother of Sandra Bland, the Illinois woman found hanging in a Texas jail cell last year — described Clinton as the kind of person you can "take your shoes off and have a conversation with."

"You can not fake passion," Reed-Veal said. "You cannot fake concern."

While some of these women have campaigned on Clinton’s behalf prior to today’s roundtable, this is the first time the five have stood shoulder to shoulder in an effort to boost her campaign. Tomorrow, at a different church in Columbia, S.C., they’ll stand beside Clinton herself."

[BlueCaliDem]

29. "You can not fake passion," Reed-Veal said. "You cannot fake concern." THIS.

I don't know where people get the "untrustworthy" or "fake" about Hillary Clinton. She's anything but untrustworthy or fake. Those are memes the GOP and their moneyed masters have hurled against the wall, hoping it sticks. Unfortunately, Bernie has chosen to help them in that regard.

Hillary is pragmatic, and that means that she, from time to time, has to review her earlier positions and choices and adjust them according to what the people want, but those are qualities we look for in a leader: someone who can evolve with the choices of the people who also evolve. Only tyrants and dictators never change their minds. That's something we need to remember.

It's wonderful news that the grieving moms of those slain - for no reason - have come out to stand by Hillary Clinton. I can't see anything more powerful than that, and I certainly don't see Spike Lee's endorsement of Bernie beat that. These mothers have suffered the worst loss as mothers, and they are honed in on the candidate who will stand with them. That they see this in Hillary tells me that it's real and true, and that she will fight for them.

[Cha]

32. Yes, this is a movement now, BlueCali.. and, Hillary will be fighting for them and with them.

I'm so grateful they've formed a bond and found strength in each other..

[BlueCaliDem]

35. Yes, it's a movement now, Cha, and I couldn't be happier. It has been dark days for me after

Zimmerman was acquitted for murdering an unarmed 17-year-old boy. I never felt so sickened and heartbroken - to see, in my country, that the law didn't bring justice to the aggrieved. I cried when I heard the verdict and it's felt like this huge stone pulling my heart down that nothing was being done about it. So when Hillary went to see them personally, and these grieving mothers who have not gotten an iota of justice, surrounded her and lifted her, I knew Hillary would make a fine Madame President.

Sometimes, Anglo-Americans get caught up in the propaganda perpetrated by our GOP-friendly fourth estate, but it's always been minority groups who keep it real for me. I look to them to cut through the b.s., because they suffer no illusions and aren't swayed by pretty pictures and buzzword-riddled "news" coverage.

[Thinkingabout]

14. These are great loses suffered by families which is senseless.

Unfortunately the loses have not stopped, SC has the mass shooting in Charleston, where does it stop? Thanks for these ladies are standing up and sharing their pain, wanting their voices heard.

[Cha]

26. I'm so grateful that Hillary is giving them chance like this to for a strong bond.

Hillary reached out to them and this is their response..

"Clinton, the women all agreed, had been the only candidate to reach out to them. That fact was stressed again and again in the more than an hour they spent here, speaking to a small group of mostly black voters.

Geneva Reed-Veal — the mother of Sandra Bland, the Illinois woman found hanging in a Texas jail cell last year — described Clinton as the kind of person you can "take your shoes off and have a conversation with."

"You can not fake passion," Reed-Veal said. "You cannot fake concern."

While some of these women have campaigned on Clinton’s behalf prior to today’s roundtable, this is the first time the five have stood shoulder to shoulder in an effort to boost her campaign. Tomorrow, at a different church in Columbia, S.C., they’ll stand beside Clinton herself."

Thank you, Thinkingabout So strong!

[oasis]

17. They trust Hillary as the solid choice to take up their cause.

Hillary has a history of making things happen through workable solutions.

[Cha]

28. Yes, you can't fool these Mothers, oasis..

"Clinton, the women all agreed, had been the only candidate to reach out to them. That fact was stressed again and again in the more than an hour they spent here, speaking to a small group of mostly black voters.

Geneva Reed-Veal — the mother of Sandra Bland, the Illinois woman found hanging in a Texas jail cell last year — described Clinton as the kind of person you can "take your shoes off and have a conversation with."

"You can not fake passion," Reed-Veal said. "You cannot fake concern."

While some of these women have campaigned on Clinton’s behalf prior to today’s roundtable, this is the first time the five have stood shoulder to shoulder in an effort to boost her campaign. Tomorrow, at a different church in Columbia, S.C., they’ll stand beside Clinton herself."

Mahalo

[mcar]

19. Such courage

Such admirable women.

[johnlucas]

20. They'll be supporting Bernie soon. Just like Eric's daughter Erica

They'll soon realize that Bernie is the REAL DEAL & Hillary is phony.
Erica Garner knows. Ask her.

Erica Garner endorsement of Bernie Sanders for President

John Lucas

[Cha]

21. Actually no. Erica will come around to supporting Hillary and she'll be glad to do it.

And, the Mothers are solidly behind Hillary.

"Clinton, the women all agreed, had been the only candidate to reach out to them. That fact was stressed again and again in the more than an hour they spent here, speaking to a small group of mostly black voters.

Geneva Reed-Veal — the mother of Sandra Bland, the Illinois woman found hanging in a Texas jail cell last year — described Clinton as the kind of person you can "take your shoes off and have a conversation with."

"You can not fake passion," Reed-Veal said. "You cannot fake concern."

While some of these women have campaigned on Clinton’s behalf prior to today’s roundtable, this is the first time the five have stood shoulder to shoulder in an effort to boost her campaign. Tomorrow, at a different church in Columbia, S.C., they’ll stand beside Clinton herself."

Yes you're blocked.

[UtahLib]

23. Such strong and courageous women, struggling with heartache and still fighting for justice for all.

[Cha]

30. I think they've all given each other strength in their bonding, Utah.. Hillary, too.

"Clinton, the women all agreed, had been the only candidate to reach out to them. That fact was stressed again and again in the more than an hour they spent here, speaking to a small group of mostly black voters.

Geneva Reed-Veal — the mother of Sandra Bland, the Illinois woman found hanging in a Texas jail cell last year — described Clinton as the kind of person you can "take your shoes off and have a conversation with."

"You can not fake passion," Reed-Veal said. "You cannot fake concern."

While some of these women have campaigned on Clinton’s behalf prior to today’s roundtable, this is the first time the five have stood shoulder to shoulder in an effort to boost her campaign. Tomorrow, at a different church in Columbia, S.C., they’ll stand beside Clinton herself."

Mahalo

[Satch59]

24. The strength of mothers...

K & R!

The strength of women also and that really is a big part for me in supporting Hillary. She is by far the most qualified and has withstood all kinds of resistance from all sides and still fights on.

I used to live near her in NY and I have friends who know her on a personal basis and she is the real deal... That woman in the "Brave" ad is the real Hillary... When she's the nominee, some of those young female (and hopefully male) will jump onboard. These young women are who they are, in part, because of Hillary and other women who continue to fight...

No words for the stories of pain and hope from these mothers who lost their children...

[Cha]

37. Thank you for this, Satch. Nice New York story. I actually met Hillary in upstate New York

when she was going around getting to know people in the smaller towns after she was elected Senator. I took her picture.

The moms have bonded and are gathering strength from each other and their purpose to help other mothers not to have to go through this unspeakable sorrow.

[DesertRat]

25. k&r

[Cha]

39. Gracias DesertRat.. Thank you.

[TexasTowelie]

27. K&R.

[Cha]

41. Gracias, TexasT.. I appreciate this.

Such a poignant story of finding strength through bonding with kindred spirits and focusing on helping others to avoid your unbearable pain.

[MoonRiver]

31. What incredible women!

As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine their loss and grief. I would be on the floor for God knows how long, maybe forever. Yet I can also see how rising up to fight the evil, known as gun proliferation, that brought about the deaths of their loved ones, could be incredibly cathartic and healing. I appreciate beyond words that these brave women are turning their horrible tragedies into something positive for humanity. And the fact that the candidate they feel best supports their goals is Hillary Clinton, speaks volumes about Madame Secretary's compassion and dedication to ending gun violence.

[Cha]

42. Yes, it does MoonRiver.. you told so eloquently, I just want to say

thank you.

[MoonRiver]

46. Thank you Cha!

I do feel passionately about ending gun violence. It is a big reason I could NEVER support Sanders in the primary.

[riversedge]

33. Hillary "listened and followed through for us. You can’t fake that.”

We know this is true.


Hillary for SC ?@HillaryforSC 2m2 minutes ago

A recap of the Mothers of the Movement in SC: Hillary "listened and followed through for us. You can’t fake that.” http://hrc.io/1oF5wsQ

[Hekate]

34. It is impressive what can happen when you listen instead of lecture

It makes all the difference in the world.

[BlueCaliDem]

36. Dictators lecture. Leaders listen. eom

[Hekate]

38. I would revise that to: Pedants lecture.

Given the pedant's lack of real world experience and the anarchic nature of the followers ... Very little chance of dictatorship.

It's the bullies and religious fanatics on the other side I worry about in that regard. They have all too much experience.

[Cha]

43. Mother's of the Movement.. Thank you, rivers! No you can't.. they went for the real deal.

[Spazito]

40. Beautiful OP, Cha...

Such strong, beautiful women turning their grief into action, positive action to help others.

[Cha]

48. They've come so far since it the unthinkable happened.. it could have gone another way but here

they are helping Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton and she's helping them. They're going to get it done.. together.

Mahalo Spazito

[MADem]

44. They backed the candidate who actually has a record against gun violence, unfettered gun sales, and

is opposed to the wholesale distribution of guns in this nation like they're bubble gum.

No other candidate has that record.

[Cha]

49. And, after they had bonded with each other they bonded with Hillary.. strength in numbers.

[NastyRiffraff]

45. Wow. Just...wow

I can't imagine losing a child; it's the worst thing that could possibly happen to a parent. Those mothers have unbelievable courage to not only go on, but to use a tragedy to support someone who truly wants to make real change, so young men don't get gunned down simply because their skin is dark.

I am in awe of all of them.

[Cha]

54. I know Riff.. they are incredible. And, you know they're going to be taking some

abuse from sanders' fans because they support Hillary. But, that would be nothing to them after what they've been through.

I'd like to be wrong on that.

[Hekate]

47. To rise from the side of your child's grave

To rise from the side of your child's grave
to go forth with daily tasks -- that alone takes a spine of steel.
But to rise from the side of your child's grave
to go forth and try to save other children from the same fate
takes immeasurable grace.
My eyes weep for their loss
my heart aches for their endurance.
But my soul soars when I see them walk day by day through this grief
toward the goals of Change
Justice
Mercy.

~~Hekate~~

[BlueMTexpat]

51. Beautifully said, Hekate!

[Cha]

55. Your poem for the mothers is so beautiful and moving, Hekate. You've put into

beautiful words what I'm feeling.

Mahalo

[ismnotwasm]

50. So tragically beautiful

[Cha]

56. Hekate wrote an eloquent poem for the Mothers, ism..

To rise from the side of your child's grave
to go forth with daily tasks -- that alone takes a spine of steel.
But to rise from the side of your child's grave
to go forth and try to save other children from the same fate
takes immeasurable grace.
My eyes weep for their loss
my heart aches for their endurance.
But my soul soars when I see them walk day by day through this grief
toward the goals of Change
Justice
Mercy.

~~Hekate~~

[monicaangela]

52. An article from The Root....

I found this very interesting as well. “If Bernie got Erica’s [Garner] vote, he did something to earn it,” said Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a prominent state senator representing Ferguson, Mo., and an advocate within the Black Lives Matter movement.

Chappelle-Nadal, who has yet to endorse any presidential candidate, has nonetheless been approached by both campaigns. She notes the importance of Black Lives Matter endorsements from elected officials but thinks that endorsements from victims’ families are a different thing entirely.


“I like Lesley,” she said, referring to Lesley McSpadden, Michael Brown’s mother. “But this is not about her only. ... If [a candidate is endorsed by] Mike Brown Sr., then maybe her endorsement doesn’t mean as much. Everyone has their own thing.”


It’s a result that we’ve already seen in the Black Lives Matter endorsement primary in a somewhat awkward way. In late January, Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, penned an essay endorsing Clinton. Just over a week later, Erica Garner, the daughter of Eric Garner, wrote an essay endorsing Sanders in the Washington Post. Justin Bamberg, a state representative in South Carolina and lawyer for Walter Scott’s family, initially endorsed Clinton, then switched after a sit-down with Sanders. In none of these cases do these endorsements make any real policy distinctions between the Democratic candidates. Which makes the aggressive pursuit of these endorsements by campaigns more about symbolism than any actual policy changes.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/politics/2016/02/bernie_and_hillary_want_to_know_who_would_trayvon_martin_vote_for.html

[Cha]

57. There was absolutely no reason for you to bring that crap into Hillary's Group and try

to mess up a beautiful thread on these Mothers who support Hillary for their reasons stated.

Hillary is real.. berni is desperate and it doesn't look good.

Yes, you're blocked.

[BlueMTexpat]

53. I can only imagine the

devastation they must feel, having raised their children only to lose them to bigotry and stupidity, with little to no accountability for such actions.

That they are still able to pick themselves up again and work for justice for potential other victims shows what strong, beautiful and incredible women they are!

[Cha]

58. Can't even imagine the horror.. but these kids have strong and amazing mothers who

are turning tragedy into a Movement to prevents others from having to go through the same hell.

Gracias BlueMTex

[brer cat]

60. Amazing women with spines of steel.

I would still be in bed with the lights off if I had endured what they have. May they find a measure of peace in fighting the good fight.

[Cha]

66. In fetal position.. I know what you mean, brer..

Thank you~

They certainly are helping their country and I'm thinking Hillary is helping them.. I'm so grateful.

Clinton's Most Valuable Allies in South Carolina: the Moms of Black Lives Matter

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/02/hillary-clinton-moms-black-lives-matter

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110754700

[William769]

61. Kick and so highly recommended.

[Cha]

67. Thank you, William!

[BooScout]

62. K&R

[Cha]

68. Mahalo Boo~

Happy Birthday!~

[BooScout]

72. Thank you Cha!

[NanceGreggs]

63. K n R!

I cannot begin to imagine what these women have gone through.

[Cha]

69. I know, Nance..

[George II]

64. Did you just see her event at the Central Baptist Church? Sandra Bland's mother was a hoot!

I thought Clinton was going to break down a couple of times while listening to those mothers. That is something to search out and watch again.

She'd better get a move on, the Town Hall is starting right now, but Sanders goes first.

[Cha]

71. No not yet.. I'm so glad the Mother of Movement were there with Hillary

Mahalo George~ I see she made to the Town Hall. lol

[fun n serious]

65. Sadly, this is a fear every mother of a black son has in USA.

This has to stop! It has to change!

[Cha]

74. Yes, very important point, fun n serious.

I can't imagine all the awareness not helping .. Hillary has taken them under her wing.. these deaths should never have happened.

[riversedge]

70. VIDEO: Trayvon Martin's Mother Talks Gun Violence And Her Support For Hillary Clinton

loved the video



VIDEO: Trayvon Martin's Mother Talks Gun Violence And Her Support For Hillary Clinton

February 23, 2016

Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, showed her support for Hillary Clinton as they talked about gun violence and gun contra I inside Central Baptist Church.
[email protected]

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article62124347.html#storylink=cpy

[Cha]

75. Thank you for this, rivers!

[George II]

73. Unfortunately some Sanders supporters are complaining about the fact that those mothers...

...(and Gabby Giffords and her husband) were at the Town Hall last night.

[Cha]

76. I would think they were slouching on the job if they didn't.

It helps awareness for sensible gun laws.

I'm grateful Hillary has taken them under her wing.

[lunamagica]

77. Such brave ladies. Thank you for loooking beyond the pain to try to change things

so these tragedies won't happen anymore

[Cha]

78. So hard, lunamagica.

My heart goes out to them, too.