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Foundation Started by Charlottesville Victim’s Mother Promotes Social Justice

The mother of the victim, Heather D. Heyer, said she wanted the country to learn a lesson she had taught her daughter: Disputes can be de-escalated before they become violent.

www.nytimes.com|Yamiche Alcindor

“Heather was a normal person, who took a strong stand for what she believed in,”

In sixth grade, Heather D. Heyer, the woman killed during the recent unrest in Charlottesville, Va., got into a heated dispute with a classmate who challenged her to a fight after school.

Ms. Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, said in an interview on Friday that her daughter turned to her for advice, and that she transformed the confrontation into a teachable moment.

“She said: ‘Mom, I’m not a fighter. What am I going to do?’” Ms. Bro recalled. “And I said, ‘You know, you talked your way into this, you need to go talk your way out of this.’ And she and the girl later became fast and hard friends for a number of years.”

Now, through a foundation bearing her daughter’s name, Ms. Bro wants the country to learn the same lesson she taught her daughter: Disputes that careen toward violence can be de-escalated by communicating in a peaceful tone, not compromising personal values and, sometimes, agreeing to disagree.

“We want to see more of that happen and have people recognize that you don’t have to respond in violence. You don’t have to respond in hate. If you see something that is making you unhappy, then speak up about it.”

As part of her efforts to cement her daughter’s legacy, Ms. Bro was traveling to California this weekend to present the “Best Fight Against the System” award on Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards. The award celebrates activism around issues like environmental justice, immigration, L.G.B.T.Q. equality and racial justice.

Heather Heyer Foundation

The Heather Heyer Foundation was created to honor Heather Heyer, a young civil rights activist, who dedicated her life to promoting equal rights for all people. The Foundation has established a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to individuals passionate about positive social change. Scholarships will be awarded to those seeking a degree or certification in, but not limited to, law, paralegal studies, social work, social justice, and education.

R.I.P. #HeatherHeyer

DragonI

“It’s a symptom of hate in society that you should have to protect your child’s grave, for Pete’s sake,”

“I would like to say no other mother has to have her child die for social justice, but I know that’s not happening, so I will do my part.”

“I held her hand, and I said, ‘I’m going to make this good for you. I’m going to make this count for something.’”

“If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention”, Heather Heyer's LAST Facebook Post

“She said: ‘Mom, I’m not a fighter. What am I going to do?’” Ms. Bro recalled. “And I said, ‘You know, you talked your way into this, you need to go talk your way out of this.’ And she and the girl later became fast and hard friends for a number of years.”

Heather Heyer Foundation