John–
You may not know much about our culture, but you don't mess with our kids.
That's been my rallying cry over the last year as I've worked with members of my community to demand action in the face of tragedy. As Latina mothers from Uvalde, TX, we have refused to sit on the sidelines.
One year has passed since a gunman shot and killed 19 children and two teachers and wounded 17 others at Robb Elementary School. The school I attended as a little girl—as well as my entire community—was forever changed that day. And like so many others, we have chosen to honor their lives with action.
Because of people like you, we were able to get Congress to pass a major gun safety law for the first time in nearly 30 years last summer. But our work is far from over. On the one-year mark of the tragedy in Uvalde, please join me in honoring the victims and survivors with action: Send your U.S. representative a message demanding an assault weapons ban NOW!
When tragedy struck my community one year ago, I felt compelled to answer it with action. I was far from alone. Together with other Uvalde women, we organized Fierce Madres.
With support from other women-led advocacy groups such as Moms Demand Action, we've rallied and marched. We've attended every single meeting of the Uvalde City Council and Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees. We have demanded accountability, including the termination of former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo as well as his resignation from the Uvalde City Council. His seat on the council is now being filled by Eloisa Medina, a member of Fierce Madres.
In just one year, we've accomplished so much. But we have a lot of work ahead of us.
Our nation's gun violence crisis disproportionately affects Latinx people and our communities. That's a big reason why Fierce Madres came together. After the shooting at Robb Elementary School, we knew something had to be done. And little by little, mothers and grandmothers began connecting and making the space in this movement that Latinx people have long deserved and needed.
Today is a painful day for many of us. But thanks to people like you, I and many other members of our community have hope for the future. Together, we will demand action and save lives.
Thank you for being a part of this movement, and for honoring the children and teachers killed and wounded at Robb Elementary School, as well as the Latinx people impacted by gun violence every single day. We couldn't do this without you.
Angela Villescaz
Founder
Fierce Madres
