Brandon Dill—AP

RowVaughn Wells became a figure of national influence in the face of her life’s biggest tragedy—losing her son Tyre Nichols after a beating by Memphis police in January 2023. Tyre poignantly cried out for RowVaughn, his loving and caring mother, as he was being brutalized by the officers. That cry shook the conscience of America.

Losing a child is the worst kind of pain that a parent could know, but RowVaughn has continued to demonstrate strength and assert her voice to ensure that her son’s story is not forgotten. Her goal is simply to stop these unjustified police killings of unarmed Black men. RowVaughn’s strength to purposefully share her grief in the public eye resulted in national recognition from President Biden and his Administration and renewed the calls for police reform on the federal level.

Crump, a civil rights attorney, represents the family of Tyre Nichols

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

Olena Zelenska
Lionel Messi
Aubrey Plaza
Michael B. Jordan
Colleen Hoover
5 stories
EDIT POST