EL PASO – Criminalization of immigrants, guns in the wrong hands and abuse of authority are constant fears that shadow over the community of El Paso.
On Aug. 3, El Paso experienced a terroristic attack that targeted Latinos and influenced the community to stand together.
The El Paso community gathered outside of Centro de Trabajadores Agricolas last Saturday and stepped firmly through the streets of El Paso with banners and chants demanding to be heard and for change to occur.
They marched in unison from Centro de Trabajodres Agricolas to Sacred Heart Church in Segundo Barrio, where several organizations discussed their reason to support El Paso.
Fernando Garcia addressing the participants of the march.
The march allowed the community to get educated on different legislation and resources available.
“I’m here supporting families to lose their fears. Many families have rights but they don’t know how to claim them, that’s why I’m here. I’m supporting the families who are losing family members by shootings and the people who have been struggling because of their legal status,” Manuela Mendoza, legal assistant of RAICES organization, said in Spanish.
“If you would like to empower someone you ought to look toward education. Saber es poder. It’s a chain, when you empower someone through education, education helps them know their rights and assimilate, defend and claim their rights and if they are empowered they can gain their legal status,” Mendoza continued.
Judy Greenspan (right) from California marches to end family seperation.
As people marched, people inside restaurants and businesses came out and joined the movement.
The march emphasized different issues: gun control, equality, immigration law and white supremacy.
Community members voiced their concerns.
“What we are doing today, and what we’re going to continue doing with different communities and different organizations, is to fight and resist against white supremacy, against militarization of the border and against the criminalization of immigrants,” Executive Director of Border Network for Human Rights Fernando Garcia said.
“We are reacting against those systems that are violating the rights of our communities. Not only on the individual issues, but also the ideology that is behind the criminalization of immigrants,” Garcia continued.
Approximately 50 people took part in the El Paso Firme march against white supremacy.
Although the city of El Paso is hurt, they are determined to stand together until their voices are heard and change is made.
“America is a land where people have risen from the ashes. People win; we believe people win. We will stand united until we are all liberated,” Rev. L. Robin Murray, member of the Faith in Texas organization said.
