Problems and Purpose

23 Hispanic/Latine/Chicane lives were taken by White supremacist mass shooter Patrick Crucius who wrote a manifesto titled the Inconvenient Truth where he detailed his targeting of the Border community. Protests held in the El Paso community were utilized to combat gun laws in the state of Texas that allowed for the mass shooter to commit this atrocity in the first place.

Background History and Context

On August 3, 2019, the city of El Paso, Texas experienced a mass shooting at the Walmart located adjacent to an international port of entry into the city. The shooter, Patrick Wood Crusius, is responsible for the injury of 23 people and the death of the 23 members of the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez community. However, before the shooting, Crusius took the liberty of writing a manifesto entitled The Inconvenient Truth, where he admitted his racial and ethnic motivations for the attacks.

Driving almost 600 miles and using a legally obtained AK-47, Crusius targeted the Chicane/Latine/Hispanic community that resides on the border. While some states have an assault weapons ban, Texas has some of the most lenient gun restrictions in the nation. In 199, Texas legalized the open carry law and further in 2015, concealed carry was first allowed in gun free zones, including schools.[1] Texas politicians like Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz hold a very strong pro gun stance and with that gun laws have not been changed to ensure people’s safety even though gun violence is prominent in the state of Texas.

While the anti gun violence protests following the mass shooting were on record the largest protest to take place in El Paso, El Paso has a rich history of protesting injustice and civic engagement including protests that took place only one year prior. El Pasoans organized a march in June of 2018 opposing the Trump administration's immigration policy that separates families at the border. This inhumane practice and harmful rhetoric about immigrants on the border was protested outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s El Paso Processing Center and had an estimated 1,000 people in attendance. [2] This event was organized by Border Network for Human Rights which always advocates for rights for all marginalized groups living in the borderland.

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

While the movement originated from people across the borderland coming together to mourn the lives that were lost that day, the El PaSo Strong movement was created almost immediately and gained a following very quickly. The movement was largely created by the family members of the victims that had lost their lives in the shooting. In addition, the El PaSo Strong foundation was largely supported by El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and former Texas representative Beto O’Rourke. [3] O’Rourke also aided in the relationship between the El PaSo Strong and the League of United Latin Americans Citizens who aided in hosting gun violence protests in El Paso, Texas, Austin, Texas, and Dallas, Texas. [3] Other local nonprofit organizations like the Paso Del Norte Foundation, Voto Latino , and Borderland Rainbow Center also supported the movement. [4][5][6]

While other groups like nonprofits support efforts to get people to the rallies, the family members that ran the El PaSo Strong foundations were the sole decision makers as far as where monetary donations were going and the coordinating of memorial events and protests.

Participants were primarily engaged through relational organizing efforts and grassroots funding efforts. Besides monetary donations, El PaSo Strong created accessible ways for people to get involved in helping the community with one the best examples being the blood drive that occurred two days following the shooting and donations of items to build ofrendas, a traditional Mexican altar built to honor the dead. Larger donations came from multiple entities including the Walmart Community Foundation, the Rapier Family Foundation, the Dallas Cowboys franchise, in addition to some local businesses like Viva La Mocha and Chuco Relic. [7][8][9]

Participant Recruitment and Selection

As the entire El Paso, Texas ~ Ciudad Juárez, Mexico community mourned the lives that were lost, everyone was invited to participate in the activities that branched from the El PaSo Strong movement. While participants largely identified as Chicane/Latine/ Hispanic, people of all races, ethnicities and genders participated in the movement. On August 7, 2019, former President Donald Trump visited El Paso which caused mass controversy as his ill rhetoric toward Hispanic/ Latinx/ Chicanx was a main cause of the shooting in the first place. Over 300 people were able to show up to the rally and advocated for a total assault weapons ban and later that evening this protest moved to city hall where hundreds more joined [14]. Primarily using the newly created El PaSo Strong website and social media pages, the public had access to all community events in the weeks that followed the mass shooting and anyone was welcome to join. To contribute to the artistic and visual protests, specific local artists were reached out to and encouraged to create pieces that displayed their feelings and emotions towards the situation. For example, a mural created by local artist Gabriel Vasquez was created in the days following the shooting and now is used as a site to pay tribute to the victims on a yearly basis. [10]

Methods and Tools Used

There are three primary methods and tools that were used by the El PaSo Strong Foundation: protests, community healing practices, and social media engagement. According to Participedia (n.d.), a protest is “an expression of bearing witness on behalf of an express cause by words or actions with regard to particular events, policies or situations”. Protests in this case were used as a means to gather people in opposition to gun violence and racial violence.

According to Todahl et. al.(2014), it is understood that communities that have endured trauma together often rely on each other in the healing process. [12] Further, culturally sensitive practices are used to unite people after tragedy struck in a particular community. Finally, social media engagement allowed community members to know when and where events were occurring. Relational organizing among community members played a large factor in making sure that community members were aware of the protests and community healing events.

What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation

On the evening of August 3, 2019, thousands of people across the border region came together to mourn the lives lost and wait in anticipation of news from the hospitals about the others who were hurt. Flowers, posters, photos, candles and more filled the streets surrounding the Walmart where the shooting had taken place and served as a site for people to gather, pray and hold each other close. [13] In addition, community members came together to build ofrendas, traditional Mexican altars honoring the dead. Born from this gathering, the name El PaSo Strong became the slogan adopted by the community in order to organize people to protest the injustice that had been witnessed.

Besides monetary donations, El PaSo Strong created accessible ways for people to get involved in helping the community with one the best examples being the blood drive that occurred two days following the shooting. In order to help the victims that were still hospitalized, thousands of people lined up to donate blood, so much so that the blood bank had to send people home because they were at the maximum amount of blood that all three of their facilities could hold. [13] Further, at gun violence protests that occurred in the following days, people made donations of water, snacks and signs for all those who participated. El PaSo Strong organizers were in charge of updating social media accounts with events like this going on around the community and telling participants ways in which they can contribute.

Protests that addressed the issues of gun violence, anti-immigrant, Hispanic, Latine, Chicane rhetoric, and gun control began to take place starting on August 5, 2019. The El PaSo Strong movement website and social media became the central line for gathering people for the protests. People gathered around the El Paso County Courthouse carrying signs that said phrases like "no hablamos hate” and “we were always El PaSo Strong”. However, the largest protest that occurred happened outside of Donald Trump’s visit to El Paso in response to the mass shooting.

This visit sparked mass controversy across the borderland and former President Trump often uses hateful rhetoric when speaking about the border and Hispanic/Latine/Chicane populations and largely inspired the mass shooting as stated by Crucius in his manifesto [12] . Around 300 people showed up to advocate for a total assault weapons ban. [14] While there was no form of formal dialogue, people at the protests were encouraged to speak out about stopping gun violence, share moments about the community members who were lost and express words of healing.

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

In response to the mass shooting and the protests that followed, the Texas state legislature made empty promises to address the gun violence and acts of white supremacy that took place in the community including Governor Greg Abbot. When asked about what action he planned to take to make sure that an incident like this never occurred again, his response was “it doesn’t require a special session for lawmakers to act”. [15] While this was not the desired outcome of the protests by organizers and community members that were seeking protection and peace, what did come from protests and community gatherings was community healing. People from across the borderland came together to partake in protests to protect the people that they love, ofrenda making, prayer groups, blood drives, food drives for families who lost loved ones, scholarship funds for minors who lost their families, and much more. [16]

One of the ways that the government did respond to the mass shooting was in the community's expression for a way to memorialize the lives that were taken the day of the mass shooting. While this project was in the works for about three years, the U.S. House of Representatives signed off on the budget for H.R. 4380 to create the El Paso Community Healing Garden National Memorial.[17] On March 9, 2022, Congress approved the creation of the memorial that would be used to recognize the lives lost on August 3, 2019. Gun violence however was never addressed.

May 24, 2022 brought yet another tragedy to Texas as another mass shooting took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. 19 school aged students and 2 teachers lost their lives at the hands of gun violence and once again Texas legislature has yet to create any gun legislation to protect vulnerable populations. [18] Following the Uvalde mass shooting, protests similar to the El PaSo Strong protests began to once again combat gun violence in the state of Texas. Further community healing practices include a mural project similar to the El PaSo Strong mural art. [19]

Analysis and Lessons Learned

A year following the mass shooting, TIME magazine published an article about El Pasoans affected by the mass shooting and their feelings about racism in the borderland and White supremacy. [20] Professor Dennis Bixler-Marquez explains in the article that El Pasoans that identify largely identify as Hispanic/ Latine/ Chicane really only experience racism upon leaving El Paso; now there is a community wide understanding that hate can be manifested anywhere. El Pasoans directly affected by the mass shooting stated things will never change unless local, state, and national politicians stop promoting racist rhetoric and actions. When asked about how El Pasoans view racial issues, Guillermo Glenn, a Walmart shooting survivor, responded, “Of course we think about race, but so many of us just have to survive. That needing to survive is also a trap, it keeps you from speaking up. That’s also institutionalized racism.” [20]

While protests were aimed at getting Texas legislators to create restrictions to getting guns and addressing the hateful anti-immigrant/-Hispanic/-Latine/-Chicane rhetoric used commonly in the United States, neither goal was accomplished. [21] In fact, 2022 brought even looser gun restrictions in the state of Texas proposed and executed by Governor Greg Abbott. [22] Participants in the movement were left distraught and discouraged as their concerns were not taken seriously by lawmakers. However, the protest brought together the people of El Paso, who for the first time found consensus on an issue that deeply divides the state. Further, community healing manifested as people came together to mourn the lives lost and to fight to protect the future of their loved ones. El PaSo Strong organizers continue to support the community of El Paso and commemorate the lives of those who passed on August 3, 2019. While protests were unsuccessful and racism continues to persist in politics, it is groups like El PaSo Strong that continue to oppose this notion and advocate for Hispanic/Latine/Chicane communities across the United States. [23] It is clear that the issues needed to be addressed will only be addressed once Texas legislation reflects the power and courageous minority communities that inhabit it.

See Also

[1] ReferencesLLC, G. F. (2024, February 12). An historical overview of Texas gun laws. https://gallianfirm.com/an-historical-overview-of-texas-gun-laws/#:~:text=In%20the%201970s 2C%20Texas%20began,the%20%E2%80%9Cconcealed%20carry%E2%80%9D%20law.

[2] Martinez, A. (2018, June 20). East El paso March protests trump immigration policy separating families. El Paso Times. https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2018/06/19/el-paso-march-protests-trump- immigration-policy-separating-families/715657002/

[3] Jacobo, J. (2019, August 11). Latino activists march in El Paso to demand for action from Texas lawmakers in wake of deadly shooting. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/latino-activists-march-el-paso-demand-action-texas/story?id=649102 28

[4] PDN Foundation. (2024). PDN Foundation. https://pdnfoundation.org/

[5] Voto Latino (2021, August 2). El Paso Strong. https://votolatino.org/elpasostrong/#:~:text=Community%20En%20Acci%C3%B3n%20has%20 partnered,parents%20by%20this%20senseless%20tragedy.

[6] Borderland Rainbow Center. (n.d.). Borderland Rainbow Center. https://www.borderlandrainbow.org/

[7] Walmart (2019, August 7). Walmart announces $400,000 in support of the El Paso Community. https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2019/08/07/walmart-announces-400-000-in-support-of-the-e l-paso-community

[8] Dallas Cowboys. (2019, August 7). Cowboys make donation to El Paso Victims’ Fund. Cowboys Make Donation To El Paso Victims’ Fund. https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-make-donation-to-el-paso-victims-fund#:~:text= The%20Dallas%20Cowboys%20have%20very%20close%20ties,%E2%80%93%20including%2 0youth%20and%20high%20school%20football

[9] Heck, K. (2019, August 12). Millions donated to relief foundations after El Paso shooting. NEWS4SA.

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/millions-donated-to-relief-foundations-after-el-paso-sho oting

[10] Litton, A. (2019, August 7). El Pasoan creates heartfelt El Paso strong mural in honor of Victims. KTSM 9. news.https://www.ktsm.com/community/el-paso-proud/el-pasoan-creates-heartfelt-el-paso-strong-mural-in-honor-of-victims/

[11] Participedia. (n.d.). Protest. https://participedia.net/method/protest

[12] Pineda, R. (2022). Inconvenient Horror: Violence as Rhetoric and the El Paso Shooting. Rhetoric and Public Affairs, 25(3), 127–143. https://doi.org/10.14321/rhetpublaffa.25.3.0127

[13] Todahl, J. L., Walters, E., Bharwdi, D., & Dube, S. R. (2014). Trauma Healing: A Mixed Methods Study of Personal and Community-Based Healing. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 23(6), 611–632. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2014.920453

[14] Bedoya, A. A. (2020, July 30). El Paso shooting victims: Know their names, learn their stories. El Paso Times.

https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/08/04/el-paso-shooting-texas-victims-identities-u pdates-and-details/1915050001/

[15] Holguin, R. (2019, August 7). People at el paso strong rally asking for ban on assault weapons, not welcoming president. KFOX. https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/people-at-el-paso-strong-rally-asking-for-ban-on-assault-weapons- not-welcoming-president

[16] Samuels, A. (2019, August 16). Gov. Greg Abbott lays out response to El Paso shooting but won’t commit to special session. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/15/greg-abbott-el-paso-shooting-town-hall/

[17] CEA survivors en Acción Scholarship Fund. (n.d.). CEA Survivors en Acción Scholarship Fund | Paso Del Norte Community Foundation. https://pdnfoundation.org/give-to-a-fund/survivors-en-accion

[18] To designate the El Paso Community Healing Garden National Memorial, and for other purposes : report (to accompany H.R. 4380) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office). (2022). [U.S. Government Publishing Office].

[19] Priest, J., & Trevizo, P. (2023, February 16). Despite decades of mass shootings in Texas, legislators have failed to pass meaningful gun control laws. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/16/mass-shootings-texas-gun-control/

[20] The twenty-one healing Uvalde murals | National Museum of the American Latino. (n.d.). https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions/mural-gallery

[21] Aguilera, J. (2020, August 3). El Paso shooting: City Grapples with racism 1 year later. Time. https://time.com/5874088/el-paso-shooting-racism/

[22] McGee, K., & McCullough, J. (2022, May 25). Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/24/texas-gun-laws-uvalde-mass-shootings/

[23] Ruffier, J. (2024, March 13). What Makes ‘El Paso Strong’? Every Texan. https://everytexan.org/2024/03/13/what-makes-el-paso-strong/

Notes

The first version of this case entry was written by Ashley Delgado, a Master of Public Service candidate at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, and then edited. The views expressed in the entry are those of the authors, editors, or cited sources, and are not necessarily those of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.