In Saginaw, where children are dying of gun violence, local races loom large

Tiffany Owens lost her daughter and her son, both shot dead, in different incidents. Photograph: Rick Findler/The Guardian

Tiffany Owens stood before the city council in Saginaw, Michigan, struggling to contain her anguish.

“I hate this city because this city took away something that was so precious and dear to me. I’ve been living here all my life and I had to bury two of my kids. They out in Forest Lawn cemetery,” she said, her voice shaking with grief.