Charlottesville Victim's Mom to White Supremacists: 'You Just Magnified Her'

During a ceremony on Wednesday honoring Heather Heyer – the 32-year-old who was killed Saturday after being struck by a car during a counter-protest against white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia – the victim's mother, Susan Bro, delivered a poignant speech about her daughter's conviction for battling injustice.

"I think the reason that what happened to Heather has struck a chord is because we know that what she did is achievable," Bro said. "We don't all have to die. We don't all have to sacrifice our lives. They tried to kill my child to shut her up. Well, guess what? You just magnified her."

Over seven minutes, Bro alternated between wistful remembrances (Heyer's many dinner table debates) and passionate pleas to carry her daughter's legacy for social justice forward. "My child's famous Facebook post was, 'If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention,'" she said. "[Heyer] paid attention. She made a lot of us pay attention.

"Here's what I want to happen," she continued. "You ask me, 'What can I do?' So many people … I want this to spread. I don't want this to die. This is just the beginning of Heather's legacy – this is not the end of Heather's legacy. You need to find in your heart that small spark of accountability. 'What is there I can do to make the world a better place? What injustice do I see?' … You poke that finger at yourself like Heather would have done. You take that extra step. You find a way to make a difference in the world."

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