doi:10.7916/fce9-sq02Oral history interview with Cleopatra Cowley, 2021Cowley, Cleopatraoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesViolent crimes--United StatesGun control--United StatesFirearms--Law and legislation--United StatesParents of murder victimsMurder victims' familiesCowley, CleopatraObama, BarackObama, Michelle, 1964-Cleopatra Cowley discusses raising her children in Chicago, shares stories of her daughter Hadiya Pendleton, and reflects on her path to activism and advocacy work following Hadiya's murder in January 2013. Cowley remembers Hadiya's trip to Washington, D.C., during which she performed as a majorette in celebrations for President Obama's second inauguration, as well as the outpouring of love and admiration from Hadiya's friends and peers at her funeral, which Michelle Obama attended. Cowley also describes her and her husband's attendance at the 2013 State of the Union address, at which they were guests of the first lady, and during which President Obama spoke of Hadiya's murder and the need for gun control legislation. Also discussed are Cowley's memories of the 2008 presidential election, the problem of gun violence in Chicago and across the United States, Cowley's connections with other mothers whose children were victims of gun violence or police brutality, and the founding of Hadiya's Promise, a non-governmental organization focused on gun violence and the connections between young people and their communities