"Let our voices be heard:" Maria Hamilton leads Million Moms March to protest racially charged deaths
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WITI) -- A Milwaukee mom has taken her cause to Washington. Dontre Hamilton's mother marched in Washington on Saturday, May 9th in the Million Moms March -- and hundreds from the across the country joined her.
It was a rally in Washington, D.C. with a message from Milwaukee.
"It's a tragedy that all of these lives have been taken and no one has stepped up," said Maria Hamilton, Dontre Hamilton's mother.
Maria Hamilton has led marches locally and this weekend, hundreds from across the country joined her on the national stage.
"How many killer police have to walk the streets? How many more lives have to be taken for you all to see you're doing something wrong? We need the federal DOJ to come into the city of Milwaukee and abolish the way the system is built," said Maria Hamilton.
Her son, Dontre Hamilton, was shot and killed by former Milwaukee police officer Christopher Manney last April.
Manney was fired for his actions leading up to the shooting, but was never charged.
"Dontre was a young man whose life was stolen from him," said Maria Hamilton.
Alicia Stingley joined Maria Hamilton in Washington for Saturday's march. Stingley's 16-year-old son Corey Stingley died after authorities say three customers of a West Allis convenient store restrained him. Police say he was trying to steal alcohol.
"Made a bad choice, but it shouldn't have cost him his life," said Alicia Stingley. "The perpetrators were not brought to justice."
On Saturday, they marched with other mothers who shared similar stories -- all asking that the federal government step in and make a change so that no other mothers will have to go through what they have.
"We come here to let our voices be heard, let our stories be told and let them know that we're not going away until the problem is resolved," said Maria Hamilton.
Maria Hamilton and some other mothers sat down with a representative at the White House on Friday, May 8th.
The Hamiltons say they plan to return to Washington in the coming months.