The massacre of 19 children and two of their teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022 left big hole in the victim’s families and the people of this rural town of 15,000 in southwest Texas. One can only imagine the pain and emotional trauma that these families are experiencing as a result of this tragic, violent ending of their kids’ and teachers’ lives.
On top of the pain and suffering the response of officials and law enforcement has added insult to injury. The culprits are local elected officials at all levels, including the School Board, the Mayor, the City Council, and State officials including Governor Abbott, all Law Enforcement, the City Police Department and the District Attorney, the Chief of Police of the Uvalde schools, and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) are all in the bunch also. Three months after the tragedy all have refused to provide any information of ongoing investigations to the victims’ families.
Whatever information has become public is the result of news media reporting and through the efforts of State Senator Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde in the State Senate. All the grieving families have gotten from officials has been a lot of finger-pointing. But no one has accepted responsibility for the failure to protect the lives of the murdered children and the teachers.
The only official report released to date came on July 16th, almost two months after the massacre. The Report was done by a committee of Texas House of Representatives that resulted from public pressure on Gov. Abbott by the news media, and the outcry from the victim’s families.
But all the Report did was to do more finger pointing. It fixed blame only on “systemic failure” and on School Police Chief Pete Arredondo, but not on school leaders, City or State officials, nor on law enforcement. This after law officers present waited over an hour after reaching the school before moving to take out the shooter. By then it was too late. The shooter had already done his deadly deed.
All parents who act every day to protect and keep their children safe grieve with and feel the pain of Uvalde families. We mourn and hurt with them. We add our voice to theirs in demanding that those responsible be held accountable for failure to protect and rescue the murdered children and teachers. No matter who they are, whether political leaders, school officials or law enforcement. All must be held accountable including Gov. Abbott. They all have the kids’ and the teachers’ blood on their hands.
Update Note: The Uvalde School Board finally fired Pete Arredondo as the School District’s Chief of Police August 23, 2022.