Why the Mother of Tamir Rice Refuses to Endorse a Presidential Candidate

As mothers of slain Black men continue to come forward with endorsements for presidential candidates, one woman is notably absent from the conversation: Samaria Rice.

Rice, who’s son Tamir was killed in November 2014 while playing with a toy gun at a Cleveland public park, penned an essay for Medium, explaining that she refuses to voice her support for any 2016 candidate.

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“While I’ve continued to push my state’s officials towards real changes, several presidential candidates have said my son’s name in their mouth, using his death as an example of what shouldn’t happen in America,” she wrote. “Twelve-year-old children should never be murdered for playing in a park. But not a single politician—local, state or federal—has taken action to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

In December, a Cleveland grand jury declined to indict either of the two officers who were involved in Tamir’s death. Rice said that she has been fighting tirelessly for her son, but no politician has helped her achieve the justice that she needs.

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“All of this happened under the administration of Ohio governor John Kasich, a 2016 presidential nominee,” she wrote. “Ohio’s state government has shown me repeatedly that the people elected to serve have no interest in justice. The lost of Tamir has made it clear to me that Cleveland is deeply invested in a system of injustice…No one has at least apologized for killing my son. Not a single politician has offered me some substantial support.”

In the last few months, the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Jordan Davis have all endorsed Hillary Clinton, while the daughter of Eric Garner issued a statement earlier this year voicing her support for Bernie Sanders.