“One Nation, One Fight” – A Call to End Gun Violence on the Anniversary of the

El Paso, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Border Network for Human Rights organized a rally with community leaders to pay tribute to those taken from the community on Saturday morning, August 3, 2019, at Linear Park.

The ceremony began with a prayer by Auxiliary Bishop of El Paso, Anthony C. Celino.

The ceremony was attended by numerous community leaders, including Councilwoman Cassandra Hernandez, County Commissioner David Stout and a representative from the White House.

Keynote speakers, including the Executive Director of BNHR, spoke about the brutal xenophobia and white supremacy the community experienced that day in 2019.

“This narrative was thrown out, it was established by the president of the United States at the time, who used the White House to call immigrants and refugees criminals, rapists,” said BNHR executive director Fernando Garcia.

Some blamed lawmakers for the rhetoric that led to the attack.

“We didn’t know then, but we know now, that these hateful narratives not only hurt people, but also kill them.”

Congresswoman Cassandra Hernandez says the rhetoric hasn’t gone away.

“Invasion is a word I hear almost daily from individuals, members of Congress, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Texas Senate. It is unacceptable and disrespectful to our people and our community,” Hernandez said.

The group mobilized people to not only blame the shooter but also the lack of gun control in the U.S.

“The shooter, the terrorist was responsible, but also those people in the White House, those politicians who used that language, they were just as responsible,” Garcia said.

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Greg Jackson, deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, shared his story of survival, saying his work began when he was shot himself. He encourages the community and lawmakers to remember that we are all affected by gun violence.

“You know, we know that this problem affects over 140,000 Americans every year and we lose 40,000, but those are not numbers. Those are not statistics, that’s our family.”

Walmart shooting survivor Michelle Grady also spoke out about the attack and said that even five years later, she is still trying to rebuild her life.

“There is no amount of love, money, support that would bring anyone back or change anything since that day. But the support I have felt from the community is so appreciated and has helped me so much in life,” Grady said.

BNHR says staying together is the key to progress.

Pastor Michael Grady said in his speech that people are not born divided and had a message for those watching the event on this solemn anniversary.

“One Nation, One Fight”

The meeting was one of several held to mark the fifth anniversary of the massacre at the Walmart in Cielo Vista on El Paso’s east side.