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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: In Cincinnati this weekend, people who share a common experience are getting together. They're attending the Parents of Murdered Children Conference. Actually it includes not just parents but really anyone who's had a loved one murdered.
They support one another, promote victims' rights legislation, and commemorate murder victims. This year, they are also paying tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Joining us from the conference is Rita Goldsmith, the group's spokeswoman, whose daughter was killed 17 years ago.
Miss Goldsmith, thanks very much for being with us this morning.
RITA GOLDSMITH, SPOKESWOMAN, PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN: Good morning. Thank you for having us.
COOPER: Why is it so important for you to meet each year, as you are doing this weekend?
GOLDSMITH: For emotional support, for awareness, to share, to get new things into the system for us, like the constitutional amendment for victims' rights, to get the latest information, and to welcome new members, unfortunately, who have now come into our group.
We're a family no one wants to join, but unfortunately every day of every year, there are new members joining us.
COOPER: And we're hearing more and more about it in the news these days. Do you think it's just that the media has picked up on this story? Because, I mean, these horrible crimes have been going on for many years now.
Is it only now we're sort of hearing about it more?
GOLDSMITH: Exactly. Back in 1978, when the national organization was founded, there -- it was actually founded because there was not any help out there, there were no books written, there was no survivor groups, there was nothing going on. And yes, this has always gone on. But the media and the exposure that we have now to national news and information, and I think it's like everything else, escalating to a point where it's just everywhere.
And it -- people need to be aware that the survivors of these children, of these loved ones that are murdered, need a place for emotional support, for education, for awareness. We need to be there for one another.
And when you do come to a group like ours, Parents of Murdered Children, we're the only national organization for survivors. When you do come, you know that everyone there has walked the same path.
COOPER: Do you find that that is a major issue, that people do not feel comfortable discussing it, that friends and neighbors who haven't been through it themselves really don't know how to deal with it?
GOLDSMITH: Absolutely, they don't want to think that it can happen to them. It makes them very uncomfortable. You know, if they distance themselves, then maybe it can't happen to them. And murder is a dirty word, whether it's a 6-year-old child or 25- or 60-year-old man, it doesn't matter. Murder is something that it makes everyone very uncomfortable.
So yes.
COOPER: And the message to parents who are, you know, as you said, an unfortunate member of this group, the message to a loved one who has had a child murdered, is what? Especially in those days and weeks after it first happens?
GOLDSMITH: Is that there are people out there that will support you, that will hug you, that will listen to you, that will comfort you and help you through the difficult times.
Things do get better. It never goes away, and as they say, closure, there is never closure...
COOPER: Yes, I hate that term, I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
GOLDSMITH: You know, well, it's like cutting your hand severely. You know, eventually it does heal, but the scar's always there.
COOPER: Yes. And you're including families and survivors from 9/11 this weekend.
GOLDSMITH: Oh, yes, definitely, yes. We -- in fact one of our workshop speakers was at ground zero and survived, and he had had a nephew murdered years earlier and was already part of the group and now is a survivor himself. And it's a very touching workshop to go through, but yes, we are honoring first responders and people who were involved with 9/11.
COOPER: And I just want to point out the button you're wearing. That is your daughter?
GOLDSMITH: Yes, this is my daughter, Tina. She was murdered 17 years ago.
COOPER: All right, well, Rita Goldsmith, thank you so much for being with us. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances. But we appreciate hearing your words this morning. Thanks very much.
GOLDSMITH: Thank you for having us.
COOPER: All right.
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