Community Gathers May 16 to Honor Lives Lost and Call for Immediate Action from County Leaders
Photo: May 16th Rally Mother’s Day Action
RIVERSIDE, CA—- Community members and civil rights advocates will hold a community vigil and rally to honor the strength, love, and resilience of mothers who have lost children to law enforcement violence and are now leading the fight for justice and systemic reform. These grieving mothers who should be celebrating this holiday with their children are instead turning their pain into power, leading a growing movement to demand oversight of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Speakers will include mothers of those lost to in-custody deaths, as well as community leaders like Supervisor Jose Medina, who will speak on the urgent need for civilian oversight and accountability in District 1. The evening will culminate in a candlelight procession to the Riverside County Jail.
Of all 58 counties, Riverside had the 2nd highest number of in-custody deaths from 2014-2024. And despite community outrage, growing lawsuits, and $100 million in taxpayer settlements, the County has yet to take action. This dangerous disregard for accountability must end. These grieving mothers and their supporters call for the Board of Supervisors to act now—this is an emergency.
The Mother’s Day Rally & Vigil will take place on Friday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Benjamin Franklin Stage (9th & Main Street in Downtown Riverside). Organized by the Riverside Sheriff Accountability Coalition, the event brings together families of loved ones lost in county jails, community members, and allies in the fight for justice. Attendees are encouraged to bring candles, posters, photos of their loved ones, and their voices, as they gather to remember, resist, and demand change.
