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One Year After Her Death, Mom Honors Sandra Bland

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's been 12 months since Sandra Bland was found dead in a Texas jail cell.

Tonight, a candlelight vigil took place at Federal Plaza, in memory of the Naperville woman. It was a night filled with prayer, song and reflection, CBS 2's Audrina Bigos reports.

CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot spoke to Bland's mother, who reflected on the anniversary of her daughter's death.

"Not much has changed," said Geneva Reed Veal. "We've got a crisis going on in this nation and there's still police brutality issues going on."

Reed Veal says the issues are traffic stops, like the fatal one involving Philando Castile in Minnesota, the shooting death of Alton Sterling in Louisiana by police.

And the deaths of five officers in Dallas.

Everybody, she said, must come together.

"The solution is, everyone has something to bring to the table," Reed Veal said. "The protester has something to bring to the table. The officers, definitely have something to bring to the table."

Sandra Bland was arrested after a traffic stop. She was found hanged in her Waller County jail cell, three days later.

Bland's mother has said her daughter would never take her own life.

As for where things stand in the case, litigation is moving forward.

"What we're just looking for is accountability," said Bland attorney Ted Diamantopoulos. "I believe that's what everyone wants. Accountability for anything that's happened and to hold the people responsible, responsible for their actions."

The family attorney says the discovery process is taking place now. A trial is set for January.

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