The mother of the woman killed in Saturday’s white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. said on Good Morning America she has “no interest” in speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I understand that President Trump wants to speak with me, I’ve heard from his press secretary and a few other people, and it’s not that I’m trying to be calloused, it’s that I have no interest in speaking to politicians just to hear them say, ‘I’m sorry,'” Susan Bro told ABC in an interview.
WATCH: ‘You didn’t shut her up, you magnified her:’ Heather Heyer’s mother calls out those responsible for daughter’s death
Thirty-two-year-old Heather Heyer, who was a Charlottesville native and paralegal, died Saturday after a car rammed into a group of protesters during the “Unite the Right” rally in the city.
A day earlier, Bro told MSNBC that though she had three missed calls from the White House, “I just haven’t had time to talk to the president.”
On Monday, Bro thanked Trump for his “words of comfort” in a statement, though has since told Robin Roberts on Good Morning America that her opinion changed after watching the news coverage of the Charlottesville rallies following a memorial for her daughter earlier this week.
WATCH: Trump expected to reach out to mother of Charlottesville victim
Trump was widely criticized for failing to immediately condemn the white nationalist protesters, and for saying that there were “very fine people on both sides.” While he did dedicate a tweet to Heyer, Bro said that after seeing a clip of Trump “equating the protesters” on the news, she’d decided not to speak with him.
“You can’t wash this one away by shaking my hand and saying, ‘I’m sorry.’ I’m not forgiving for that,” Bro told ABC.
Riots broke out in Charlottesville on Saturday after a “Unite the Right” rally against the removal of a Confederate statue was met with volumes of counter-protesters. The white nationalist rally escalated until a car was rammed through a crowd of people, killing Heyer and injuring 34 others.
-
![]()
Arnold Schwarzenegger slams Trump’s response to Charlottesville -
![]()
Tina Fey takes out frustration with Trump and Charlottesville by devouring American flag cake -
![]()
Candlelight vigil held at University of Virginia campus in support of Charlottesville victims -
![]()
Anti-Nazi solidarity march held in Berlin in support of Charlottesville -
![]()
Trump attacks Republican senators on Twitter as fallout over Charlottesville response grows -
![]()
Thousands march in Philadelphia in support of Charlottesville -
![]()
Fallout escalating for Donald Trump over Charlottesville response -
![]()
Calgarians hold candlelight vigil for Charlottesville victims -
![]()
Americans in Calgary weigh in on President Trump’s response to deadly Charlottesville protest -
![]()
Canada’s thoughts and prayers with Charlottesville: Chrystia Freeland -
![]()
Chrystia Freeland offers condolences to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, condemns ‘racist hatred’ of Charlottesville riots -
![]()
Christie Pits riot draws comparisons to Charlottesville violence
White nationalists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members attended the rally along with the counter-protesters.
Bro also told MSNBC Thursday that since Heyer was killed, she’s received death threats for speaking to the media.
“I think the president has found a niche in voters of the people who feel marginalized and I think he has continued to nurture those marginalized voters,” she said. “I’ve had death threats already … because of what I’m doing right this second.”
She said that Heyer was part of the counter-protesters standing against a white nationalist rally.
Bro resolved that despite the threats, she will not live in fear. She went on to tell ABC that she will now dedicate herself to “Heather’s mission.”
Comments