"We're coming:" Four local mothers, bound by tragedy, to spend Mother's Day in D.C., but why?
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Four mothers, tied together by tragedy are now united in one mission. They're planning a march in Washington, D.C. on Mother's Day. Called the "Million Moms March," it will be for mothers whose children have died during violent encounters. It's meant to get the attention of the federal government.
"They know that we're coming," Maria Hamilton said.
Dontre Hamilton
The mothers of Dontre Hamilton, Brandon Johnson, Corey Stingley and Tony Robinson know the pain of outliving a son.
Maria Hamilton's 31-year-old son Dontre was shot and killed by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney in Red Arrow Park in April 2014.
"We're here to let our nation know that we're gonna fight," Maria Hamilton said.
16-year-old Corey Stingley died after he was restrained by customers inside a West Allis food mart in 2012.
25-year-old Brandon Johnson died at the Milwaukee County Mental Health facility in 2012.
No criminal charges were filed in connection with their sons' deaths.
Brandon Johnson
"All I can do is pray," Tony Robinson's mother Andrea Irwin said.
19-year-old Robinson was shot and killed by Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny on March 6th.
"Praying that the DA looks at the investigation in the whole, takes politics out of the investigation," Irwin said.
These moms stood in the rain on Monday evening, March 30th -- announcing their plans to spend Mother's Day in a march of moms in Washington, D.C.
Corey Stingley
"We have the same pain. We have the same stories," Maria Hamilton said.
Their goal is to get the attention of the Department of Justice.
"To be able to reopen the cases and seek justice for all of our children," Brandon Johnson's mother Alecia Johnson said.
These mothers say they want a special prosecutor appointed by the federal government to investigate police-related deaths. They also want a unit created to monitor the practices of police agencies.
"We need for the Justice Department to care about us," Maria Hamilton said.
Tony Robinson
Robinson's death is being reviewed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation and the Dane County District Attorney's Office.
In Stingley's and Johnson's deaths, it was ruled that those involved were not aware their actions could cause great bodily harm.
In Hamilton's death, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office ruled that Christopher Manney would not face charges, but a Fire and Police Commission panel ruled that he would never again serve as a Milwaukee police officer.