Dontre Hamilton's family remembers Rev. Jesse Jackson's support after their son was killed by Milwaukee police
CBS 58 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- As the nation reflects on the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Hamilton family says his support during their darkest moments will never be forgotten.
Grief has a sound. For Nate Hamilton Jr., it echoes through marches and the memories of his brother.
“Every day. Every day. Not a day goes by I don’t miss him, don’t think about him,” said Hamilton. “We’re never gonna give up on his justice or no one else’s.”
In 2014, 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton, who struggled with mental illness, was shot and killed in Red Arrow Park by a Milwaukee police officer. The officer was not criminally charged but fired for violating MPD’s pat-down policies.
Dontre’s death sparked protests across the city. At those protests, next to Hamilton, stood Rev. Jackson.
“He was here, at All People’s Church, supporting us and marching alongside of us,” said Hamilton.
On Tuesday, the Baptist minister who dedicated his life to the civil rights movement died. He was 84.
“You know, it’s a heartache when you find someone who worked so hard and was so impactful, it’s hard to replace that type of person,” said Hamilton.
While Rev. Jackson's fight for civil rights shaped the nation, his frequent visits to Wisconsin shaped the lives of the families he touched.
“His smile, his demeanor, and the way he accepted us and listened to us and heard our story,” said Hamilton.
Dontre’s death sparked change in Milwaukee, including pushing officers to wear body cameras. Hamilton says Rev. Jackson's support kept them going.
“So, we’re just grateful to him, even through the loss of him, to be able to put us in the position to change lives,” said Hamilton.
It’s that support, Hamilton says, they hope to pass on, to help families the way Rev. Jackson helped theirs.
“He remained looking at society and humanity as something that can always be better, and if we lose focus of that, we’ll fail us all,” said Hamilton.
