Michelle Obama Invites Slain Teen's Family to White House for Easter
Michelle Obama reportedly invited the family of slain teenager Hadiya Pendleton to the White House for an Easter Egg Roll at the White House.
Mrs. Obama, the First Lady of the United States of America, reportedly reached out to the family of Pendleton after the 15-year-old from Chicago, Ill. was murdered weeks after performing at the Inauguration of President Obama with her high school drill team.
Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, Hadiya's mother, said she and her son Nathaniel plan to attend the White House event on April 1 for the annual Easter celebration, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. Mrs. Obama attended the 15-year-old girl's funeral last month while the President mentioned the teenager's murder in his State of the Union address last month.
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Kristina Schake, communications director for Michelle Obama, made a statement about the First Lady's attendance in The Chicago Tribune.
"As a mother and Chicagoan, the first lady was heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Hadiya Pendleton due to senseless gun violence," Schake said last month in the Sun-Times. "Too many times, we've seen young people struck down with so much of their lives ahead of them. The First Lady is traveling to her funeral on Saturday to offer her condolences and support to Hadiya's family and loved ones."
LaKeisha Stewart, Pendleton's godmother, said the family appreciated the support that they were receiving.
"It's a lot to take in. It's an overwhelming experience," Stewart told The Chicago Tribune. "We are very thankful the people are coming to support the family. We realize that this young lady has touched a lot of people and this goes beyond us."
After Pendleton's untimely death at Chicago's Harsh Park on Jan. 29, the President released a statement to express his condolences.
"The President and First Lady's thoughts and prayers are with the family of Hadiya Pendleton," White House spokesman Jay Carney said following her death.
