August 3 marks the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting that occurred at an El Paso Walmart. During this tragic event, 23 people lost their lives and 23 others were injured. The shooting has been described as the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.
In response to the tragedy, El Paso Strong continues to connect community members to services to help them heal. The multi-media campaign encourages victims, families, first responders and the community at-large to seek support when coping with the psychological and emotional effects associated with the shooting.
Specially produced videos, such as the one below, feature local residents encouraging members of the community to reach out and seek help when they need it.
El Paso Strong – Strength Means Seeking Help from EHN on Vimeo.
The events held in El Paso to commemorate the anniversary of the shooting are expected to focus on healing and kindness. Groundbreaking for the Healing Garden, a reflective memorial honoring the victims, took place on August 2. For “Act of Kindness Day” on August 3, people are invited to help overcome hate by doing a good deed for someone else. Participants are asked to wear white and use the social media hashtag #loveforelpaso and tag @elpasounitedfrc.
Achieving Together is dedicated to social justice. In our quest to end the HIV epidemic in Texas, there is no room for the hateful and xenophobic rhetoric that motivated this tragic event. Horrific acts of violence such as this are likely “to incite fear in anyone, but especially in Hispanic communities on the border, who are facing additional forms of structural violence.”
We want to recognize those who lost their lives or were impacted by the shooting and also honor the healing that has occurred during the past year. If we work together, we can dismantle oppressive systems and provide opportunities and freedoms so that people from all communities – including Black, Latino, and LGBTQ communities – can thrive and achieve optimal health and wellness. Will you join us?