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Mothers of the Movement support Clinton with tributes to lost children

The Mothers of the Movement, a group of black mothers who lost children to gun violence, some at the hands of police, delivered a moving tribute to their children and an enthusiastic endorsement of Clinton.

Members of Mothers of the Movement take the stage during the Democratic National Convention on July 26, 2016, in Philadelphia. (Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)

The Mothers of the Movement, a group of black mothers who lost children to gun violence, some at the hands of police, delivered a moving tribute to their children and an enthusiastic endorsement of Clinton.

“This isn't about being politically correct. It's about saving our children," said Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin.

When the women took the stage, chants of "black lives matter" filled the arena. Outside, several hundred demonstrators supporting the Black Lives Matter movementmarched from Temple University in North Philadelphia to City Hall. Many criticized Clinton for not speaking more forcefully on the issue of police brutality.

Addressing the convention, Geneva Reed-Veal described watching her daughter Sandra Bland being lowered in a coffin into her grave after she died in a Texas jail last year. Lucia McBath, whose son was shot because he was playing loud music in 2012, said her job as his mother hasn't ended, even if his life did.

“I lived in fear my son would die like this," she said. "I even warned him that because he was a young, black man, he would meet people who didn't value him or his life.”

McBath said Clinton "isn't afraid to say Black Lives Matter."

"We're also going to keep using our voices and our votes to support leaders like Hillary Clinton, who will help us protect one another so this club of heartbroken mothers stops growing," she said.

Their remarks were preceded by former attorney general Eric Holder, who said it's important to adequately train and equip police officers, and he asserted that supporting them in their efforts is not inconsistent with ensuring they treat Americans with dignity and respect.

Holder also got in a dig on Donald Trump and his "Make America Great Again" slogan, saying the country is already great.

"Donald, did you hear me? I said already great nation," Holder said.

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