87R18886 KSM-D
By: Moody H.R. No. 585
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, People from across the state of Texas and the nation
were outraged and deeply saddened by the horrific events that took
place in El Paso on August 3, 2019, when a gunman went on a racially
motivated shooting rampage that claimed the lives of 23 men, women,
and children; and
WHEREAS, The gunman, who had published an online essay
detailing his white supremacist and anti-immigrant views, traveled
10 hours from his North Texas residence with the expressed intent of
targeting people of Mexican descent; armed with an assault rifle,
he carried out his attack at the Walmart near El Paso's Cielo Vista
Mall on a crowded day when more than one thousand shoppers and one
hundred employees were inside the store; and
WHEREAS, Valiantly risking their own lives, a number of
individuals attempted to usher shoppers and employees to safety and
protect others in the line of fire; six minutes after receiving the
first report of the attack, police arrived and apprehended the
gunman, bringing the incident to an end with a final toll of 23 dead
and 23 wounded; and
WHEREAS, The victims killed that day ranged in age from 15 to
90 years old, and many more, including children as young as two
years old, suffered traumatic injuries; the Walmart store was a
popular shopping destination for both El Pasoans and for Mexicans
taking day trips across the border, and a number of Mexican
nationals were among those who lost their lives; and
WHEREAS, In the aftermath of that tragic day, El Pasoans
demonstrated that the spirit of their community was far too
resilient to be broken by one disgraceful act of hate; alongside
stories of heroism during the massacre were reports of everyday
people lining up at hospitals to donate blood, offering profound
compassion, support, and comfort to the surviving families, and
rallying behind the mantra "El Paso Strong"; in what was perhaps one
of the most moving moments in the weeks that followed, a grieving
husband invited the public to attend his wife's memorial service,
resulting in more than 3,000 fellow residents turning out to pay
their respects; and
WHEREAS, The incident, which was the deadliest mass shooting
targeting Latinos in Texas history, was a devastating shock to a
city that is so renowned for its welcoming hospitality and
close-knit sense of community; more than a year has passed since
that terrible event made headlines all across the world, but the
passage of time has not diminished the tremendous sense of grief
felt over the loss of 23 innocent lives, nor has it lessened the
resolve of the people of El Paso to stand together against the
insidious forces of hatred, prejudice, and violence; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the victims of the mass shooting
that took place in El Paso on August 3, 2019, and offer heartfelt
condolences to the families and friends who carry on their
memories.