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TexasTowelie

(111,314 posts)
Mon Aug 3, 2020, 07:19 AM Aug 2020

El Paso mayor: On the anniversary of the shooting, we refuse to let evil and fear define us

On Aug. 3, 2019, El Paso dealt with the presence of evil as our region has never experienced. A white supremacist from many miles away entered a Walmart on a bright, warm Saturday summer day and shot 46 men, women and children, killing 23. It was an attack on who we are as a community, and I felt it personally.

Few across our nation, and even our state, understand our border region. El Paso is the largest U.S. city on the Mexican border, sitting next to Juárez, Mexico. We have been one region for over 350 years, a century before the United States was founded. We have family, commerce and culture on both sides of our border. Nine of the 23 victims killed came from Mexico.

I have said from Day One, this evil, hate-filled event will not define us. It will be a part of our history, but relegated to an asterisk footnote. El Paso will not be known for tragedy, but for our strength and grace.

People ask me about our recovery and resilience; although it is hard to articulate in the middle of a pandemic, I can still feel it. Resilience is embedded into our cultural DNA. We have mutigenerational families who have lived in our region for many decades. Our ancestors have seen revolutions and wars, and we have persevered. What we can show the world from this evil tragedy? I believe it is: We shall not fear.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/08/02/el-paso-mayor-on-the-anniversary-of-the-shooting-we-refuse-to-let-evil-and-fear-define-us/

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El Paso mayor: On the anniversary of the shooting, we refuse to let evil and fear define us (Original Post) TexasTowelie Aug 2020 OP
... mercuryblues Aug 2020 #1
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