About this Speaker
Mother of the Movement, Activist for Justice
Rev. Wanda Johnson is an amplified voice of empathy for individuals seeking justice, grieving, and healing from innocent lost lives by hands of law enforcement. Her beloved only son Oscar Grant III was murdered by an Oakland BART transit officer on January 1, 2009, which not only called attention to police brutality, but inspired the formation of Black Lives Matter. Her experience around fighting for justice, the media, and trial strategy inform her community work. She has become key in the national racial justice reckoning, as she travels the world seeking justice for communities world-wide.
Wanda is CEO of The Oscar Grant Foundation, a 501(c)3, that helps at-risk youth, grieving families, students support and enrichment, education, and hunger. She works side by side with the mothers of Mike Brown, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and countless other families that have become known as the Mothers of the Movement. Publicity around Wanda’s work caught the attention of Forest Whittaker and in 2013 he produced the award-winning film, Fruitvale Station, a story that humanizes Oscar Grant’s last day of life. Most recently, Rev. Wanda’s journey as an activist and mentor to mothers of victims of police violence inspired the making of For Our Children, a feature length documentary currently streaming on Netflix.
Rev. Wanda hopes to also improve social inequities caused by negative stereotyping in law enforcement. She is an international motivational speaker, established gospel minister, and makes monthly appearances around the world impacting hearts in similar struggles. A dynamic, well-spoken activist, she has made guest appearances on nationally syndicated television programs, at respected universities, and in public forums.
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