Susan Bro, mother of Charlottesville activist and victim, Heather Heyer, recently spoke out regarding her daughter's murderer. She also shared what she said to Donald Trump moments after her daughter's funeral.
Heather Heyer was killed by white nationalist, James Fields, when he ran his car into a group of anti-racism protesters at last year's Charlottesville, Virginia protest.
Last week, Fields was found guilty of murder in the first degree and jurors recommended that he be sentenced to life with an additional 419 years. Sentencing will occur in March.
Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, spoke out regarding Fields' trial.
"I felt secure in handing him over to prosecution and to judgment.... I had plenty else to do with the Heather Heyer Foundation, and I just didn't feel like I needed to consume my own self with hate, because hate just consumes the one that hates. It doesn't do anything to the person that you hate. In my life, I prefer not to hate people."
After Fields was found guilty, Bro expressed her relief.
"I also felt that it was not only important that Heather and the survivors have their day of justice, but also that we send a very strong message that we will not tolerate hate."
Susan also spoke about her interaction with Donald Trump after Heather's funeral.
She explained why she did not speak to him before the services.
"I turned my phone off on the way to the funeral because I was trying to concentrate and I'd already had one politician call me. I just turned my phone off."
She continued.
"By the time I turned my phone on…I saw that there had been three phone calls from the White House during the funeral itself. They each sounded a bit increasingly frantic, which I thought was odd…. Once I heard what he had to say, I said I thought he's busy and neither one of us really has time to talk to one another."
Bro did not stop there.
"The only thing I particularly had to say to him is 'Please, think before you speak.'"
The world is grateful to the grieving mother for her honesty and strength of character amidst a tragic time.
Others unfortunately assume her words will fall on deaf ears.
If only he would listen to you, Ms. Bro.
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