Heather Heyer's mother delivers emotive speech at Charlottesville memorial.
ADVERTISEMENTThe mother of Heather Heyer, who died when a car rammed into a group of people protesting against a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, today delivered a strong message at her memorial service.
Susan Bro addressed a packed room at the Paramount Theater in downtown Charlottesville, telling attendees that “they tried to kill my child to shut her up”.
“If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention,” she continued, urging everyone to “find a way to make a difference in this world” in her daughter’s memory.
Those attending the funeral were asked to wear purple, Heyer’s favourite colour.
Watch the full service here
During the service Mark Heyer, Heather’s father stated: “She loved people, she wanted equality.”
Heyer, 32, was killed and 19 others were injured when a car hit demonstrators in Charlottesville, reportedly during a face off between white nationalist demonstrators and counter-protesters.
President Donald Trump blamed both sides for the violent unrest in Charlottesville, refusing to single out either the white supremacist demonstrators or the anti-fascist protesters who opposed them.
The leader caused controversy after he did not immediately condemn neo-Nazism in the wake of the clashes.
Bro said on the day of her daughter’s passing that her life was dedicated to “fairness and equality and caring, and that’s what we want people to take away from this.”