Kimberly Handy-Jones affectionately known as “Mama Handy” is a pillar in the fight for justice among mothers whose children have been killed by police. For five years now she has held an annual banquet summoning mothers from all across the country to gather and honor their children. Her inspiration for creating this community of grieving mothers is rooted in her own grief, in 2017 her own son, Cordale Handy was fatally shot by Saint Paul Police Officers Mikko Norman and Nathaniel Younce.

We close out season one of The Mothers Podcast with episode ten featuring a woman who helped make it all happen. As part of our larger video documentary project, Handy-Jones played an instrumental role in allowing Unicorn Riot the access and ability to hear dozens of mothers’ stories during the weekend of her events.

The Mothers Podcast is a 10-episode series that puts a spotlight on mothers from across the U.S. whose children have been killed by police violence. Becoming members of a club that NO ONE would wish to join, these mothers’ stories go beyond the headlines of each case, dissecting the pain, aftermath and the struggle for accountability for the killing of their child. This exploration unveils mothers supporting mothers to overcome grief and create change within their communities all across the country.

The Mothers Podcast features the work of Unicorn Riot interviews going back to 2018 and is a precursor to Unicorn Riot’s full-length documentary film, ‘The Mothers.’ The podcast series is hosted by independent journalist Georgia Fort and Niko Georgiades of Unicorn Riot. Each episode is edited and mixed by DJ Skizz who provides original music along with original songs by MC Longshot and recorded and engineered by Malcolm Wells, along with editing and producing by Tarik Thornton (Different Worlds Music Group).

For more information: https://unicornriot.ninja/themothers

During episode nine of The Mothers Podcast we hear from Lisa Simpson whose 18-year-old son, Richard Risher, was killed in 2016 by Los Angeles Police Officer Francisco Zaragoza in the Nickerson Gardens Housing Development. Police fired 70 shots at Risher, 35 hitting his body.

Simpson said the police and media created a narrative to demonize her son and spoke about abolition of the police forces over police reform. She spoke candidly about how she was "robbed" by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles in the form of them fundraising in her son's name and never giving her any of the funds and how orgs are supported over moms who are left struggling.

The Mothers Podcast is a 10-episode series that puts a spotlight on mothers from across the U.S. whose children have been killed by police violence. Becoming members of a club that NO ONE would wish to join, these mothers’ stories go beyond the headlines of each case, dissecting the pain, aftermath and the struggle for accountability for the killing of their child. This exploration unveils mothers supporting mothers to overcome grief and create change within their communities all across the country.

The Mothers Podcast features the work of Unicorn Riot interviews going back to 2018 and is a precursor to Unicorn Riot’s full-length documentary film, ‘The Mothers.’ The podcast series is hosted by independent journalist Georgia Fort and Niko Georgiades of Unicorn Riot. Each episode is edited and mixed by DJ Skizz who provides original music along with original songs by MC Longshot and recorded and engineered by Malcolm Wells, along with editing and producing by Tarik Thornton (Different Worlds Music Group).

For more information: https://unicornriot.ninja/themothers

Terrence Coleman, 31, was fatally shot by Boston Police Officer Garrett Boyle at his mother’s apartment in 2016. In episode eight of The Mothers Podcast we hear from his mother, Hope Coleman, who shares the horrific details of her son being killed after calling for help for him.

Diagnosed with schizophrenic paranoia as a child, Terrence is one of several victims killed by police in the first season of The Mothers Podcast who was dealing with mental illness and was having a bad day. As stated in episode seven, one in four people killed by police have a mental illness and as we heard in episode five with Toni Biegert, Hope now lives with the regret of calling 911 for help. In March 2022, Hope’s legal team filed a motion to compel discovery against Boston and the officers involved.

The Mothers Podcast is a 10-episode series that puts a spotlight on mothers from across the U.S. whose children have been killed by police violence. Becoming members of a club that NO ONE would wish to join, these mothers’ stories go beyond the headlines of each case, dissecting the pain, aftermath and the struggle for accountability for the killing of their child. This exploration unveils mothers supporting mothers to overcome grief and create change within their communities all across the country.

The Mothers Podcast features the work of Unicorn Riot interviews going back to 2018 and is a precursor to Unicorn Riot’s full-length documentary film, ‘The Mothers.’ The podcast series is hosted by independent journalist Georgia Fort and Niko Georgiades of Unicorn Riot. Each episode is edited and mixed by DJ Skizz who provides original music along with original songs by MC Longshot and recorded and engineered by Malcolm Wells, along with editing and producing by Tarik Thornton (Different Worlds Music Group).

For more information: https://unicornriot.ninja/themothers