Hillary Clinton meets with families of Trayvon Martin, other gun violence victims
CHICAGO Hillary Clinton held a private meeting in Chicago on Monday with the family members of victims of gun violence, including Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice.
According to a campaign aide, Clinton and the family members discussed their personal stories of loss and the need for gun safety reform, as well as a restoration of trust between communities and law enforcement agencies.
Among the family members who attended were Sabrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, Lesley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown, Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton and Joy McCormack, mother of Francisco "Frankie" Valencia.
Grateful to spend time today with mothers who have lost a child to violence and turned their grief into a national call to action. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 3, 2015
The meeting comes just days after Clinton spoke about the need for gun safety and criminal justice reform during a campaign stop in Charleston, South Carolina.
Clinton, who supports reversing the 2005 law which shields gun dealers and manufacturers from lawsuits, has called for universal background checks on prospective gun buyers and the closing of loopholes that make gun purchases easier at gun shows and online.
But beyond reform, Clinton called on Americans to reflect daily on the meaning of tragedies of gun violence, like the shooting that killed nine people at a church in Charleston over the summer.
"One of the challenges that we need to confront is how we look at each other with respect," she said Saturday, "and how we build a country that truly does hold out the promise of the American dream to everybody."