WASHINGTON — On what would have been her son’s 16th birthday, a D.C. mother is using her grief to advocate for change after a tragic drowning that took her child’s life three years ago.

Zamari Wilson was just 12 years old when he drowned while on a family trip to Virginia Beach during the Fourth of July weekend in 2022. His mother, Brenda Wilson, says the beach was crowded—but there were no lifeguards on duty.

“We were looking around for lifeguards, looking for help, and there was no one there to help us,” Wilson said. “I couldn’t believe it—and people were just steady coming in. It was Fourth of July weekend. I was just like, ‘Please be careful, my son just drowned here.’ If you look around, no lifeguards, no life jackets—nothing to save you.”

Wilson marked her son’s birthday Sunday at

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