fROM mARCH FOR our lives
mISSION: To harness the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives.
Aug. 3 shooting anniversary prompts reflection on current fight for justice and
reform
by Luke Miller
August 3 rd , 2020 served as the painful one-year anniversary of the El Paso Wal-Mart
shooting, in which 23 El Pasoans were gunned down under the banner of white
supremacy, xenophobia, and ecofascism.
As our community reflects about the tragic events of August 3, 2019, it is increasingly
essential to not only grieve for the unimaginable losses of the families affected, but also
to advocate for an adjustment, or rather a correction, of political and social rhetoric in
this country. A shift from “thoughts and prayers” to advocacy for real, substantive
statutory measures; a shift from a complacent and performative stance on
discrimination to an actively anti-racist national identity, seeking to correct the errors of
the past.
A shift from apathy to advocacy.
The August 3rd shooting paralyzed our city with unexplainable grief, terror, and fear. But
these sentiments were immediately triumphed by our city’s indestructible fabric of
community. Thousands of El Pasoans stood in sweltering heat to donate blood, millions
offered their love and support through social media, and arguably most importantly, we
demanded gun violence preventive measures and racial legislation to combat deadly
white supremacy. This one-year anniversary not only reminds us of our community’s
unwavering support and unity, but also of the battle for cultural and legislative change
for justice - the march of our lives.
El Paso Strong.
Brown, Black Birds
By: Anonymous Gun Violence Prevention Activist from El Paso
Red bleeds as the artificer
Brushes the warm melodies of sun and mountain
On that stupid, white paper
Green thorns, dark blue, purple sky
Intense like the feeling of a cathartic trod through the place of massacre
Blunt, Bleak I apologize
The trod is too much for us
Did you know there are Black and Brown Birds on that stupid, white paper?
Birds with lengthy feathers that interact with the sunset
Like Mayan poetry placemaking placeworlds infused with nature
Beautiful Brown, Black Birds
You see, the artificer
He believes he can paint the white away with those
Lengthy wings and the image of a perfect arroyo
But the white background shoots the birds down spiraling landing at his feet
Red bleeds as the artificer
Brushes colored hope
On that stupid, white paper
No matter how much he paints the guns won’t leave and the deaths won’t stop until you tear apart the
Canvas.
Artists From Left to Right:
Iliana Garcia, Anonymous, Sarah Villaronga, Mariana Meza
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