Mother of slain inaugural performer demands action from Congress

The mother of Hadiya Pendelton, a 15-year-old girl who was shot to death one week after performing at President Barack Obama's inauguration has made a PSA demanding action on gun safety from Congress.

Cleopatra Cowley-Pendelton joined forces with the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns to produce the 30-second ad spot. In it, she discusses the heartbreak of losing her child to gun violence.

"When my daughter Hadiya performed at the president's inauguration, it was the happiest day of her life," said Cowley-Pendelton in voice-over. "A week later, she was murdered, gunned down near her school. A piece of my heart is gone."

Cowley-Pendelton urged viewers to contact Congress urging them to pass legislation demanding background checks for people trying to buy firearms, as well as other measures aimed at bringing down America's high rate of gun violence.

More information is available at DemandAPlan.org.

Watch the video, embedded below via YouTube: