Charlottesville victim Heather Heyer's mother: We must fight against hatred
Hundreds of people pack a memorial in Charlottesville as Donald Trump pays tribute to "beautiful and incredible" Heather Heyer.
Wednesday 16 August 2017 18:26, UK
The mother of a protester who was killed during violent clashes in Virginia has used her daughter's memorial service to urge people to fight against hatred and division.
Susan Bro was given a standing ovation at the service in Charlottesville as she insisted Heather Heyer's death was the start of her legacy.
She said: "They tried to kill my child to shut her up. Well, guess what? You just magnified her.
"You need to find in your heart that small spark of accountability. What is there that I can do to make the world a better place.
"You poke that finger at yourself like Heather would have done and you make it happen. You take that extra step.
"If you are not outraged you are not paying attention. I would rather have my child but, by golly, if we have to give her up we're going to make it count."
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Hundreds of people, many wearing purple in honour of Ms Heyer, packed the Paramount Theater in the city for the service.
Crowds also filled a second cinema and lined the streets wearing purple badges.
One person outside the Paramount told Sky News: "This tragedy that has happened to our community is going to grow, into something very, very important."
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Ms Heyer, 32, was killed during clashes on Saturday between white nationalists attending a "Unite the Right" rally and counter-protesters.
The paralegal was hit by a car driven at high speed as she crossed the street.
James Fields, 20, from Ohio, has been charged with her murder.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, US Senator Tim Kane and Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer were among those at the memorial service.
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President Donald Trump has come under heavy criticism - much of it from his own Republican party - over his initial response to the violence, after he blamed "many sides" for the clashes.
On Monday, he bowed to political pressure and condemned neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan by name, but again increased tensions on Tuesday by .
On Wednesday, former Republican presidents George HW Bush and George W Bush issued a veiled rebuke of Mr Trump in a joint statement that condemned racial bigotry and anti-Semitism.
The statement read: "America must always reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred in all forms."
The statement did not mention Mr Trump by name.
Mr Trump tweeted about Ms Heyer for the first time on Wednesday, saying she was "beautiful and incredible" and a "truly special woman".