SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 224
	In Memory
	of
	The Victims of the Tragic Shooting
	in El Paso on August 3, 2019
	WHEREAS, People from across the state of Texas and the
	nation were outraged and deeply saddened by the horrific events
	that took place in El Paso on August 3, 2019, when a gunman went
	on a racially motivated shooting rampage that claimed the lives
	of 23 men, women, and children; and
	WHEREAS, The gunman, who had published an online essay
	detailing his white supremacist and anti-immigrant views,
	traveled 10 hours from his North Texas residence with the
	expressed intent of targeting people of Mexican descent; armed
	with an assault rifle, he carried out his attack at the Walmart
	near El Paso's Cielo Vista Mall on a crowded day when more than
	one thousand shoppers and one hundred employees were inside the
	store; and
	WHEREAS, Valiantly risking their own lives, a number of
	individuals attempted to usher shoppers and employees to safety
	and protect others in the line of fire; six minutes after
	receiving the first report of the attack, police arrived and
	apprehended the gunman, bringing the incident to an end with a
	final toll of 23 dead and 23 wounded; and
	WHEREAS, The victims killed that day ranged in age from 15
	to 90 years old, and many more, including children as young as two
	years old, suffered traumatic injuries; the Walmart store was a
	popular shopping destination for both El Pasoans and for Mexicans
	taking day trips across the border, and a number of Mexican
	nationals were among those who lost their lives; and
	WHEREAS, In the aftermath of that tragic day, El Pasoans
	demonstrated that the spirit of their community was far too
	resilient to be broken by one disgraceful act of hate; alongside
	stories of heroism during the massacre were reports of everyday
	people lining up at hospitals to donate blood, offering profound
	compassion, support, and comfort to the surviving families, and
	rallying behind the mantra "El Paso Strong"; in what was perhaps
	one of the most moving moments in the weeks that followed, a
	grieving husband invited the public to attend his wife's memorial
	service, resulting in more than 3,000 fellow residents turning
	out to pay their respects; and
	WHEREAS, The incident, which was the deadliest mass
	shooting targeting Latinos in Texas history, was a devastating
	shock to a city that is so renowned for its welcoming hospitality
	and close-knit sense of community; more than a year has passed
	since that terrible event made headlines all across the world,
	but the passage of time has not diminished the tremendous sense
	of grief felt over the loss of 23 innocent lives, nor has it
	lessened the resolve of the people of El Paso to stand together
	against the insidious forces of hatred, prejudice, and violence;
	now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th
	Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the victims of the mass
	shooting that took place in El Paso on August 3, 2019, and offer
	heartfelt condolences to the families and friends who carry on
	their memories.
	Blanco
	Alvarado Hinojosa Paxton
	Bettencourt Huffman Perry
	Birdwell Hughes Powell
	Buckingham Johnson Schwertner
	Campbell Kolkhorst Seliger
	Creighton Lucio Springer
	Eckhardt Menéndez Taylor
	Gutierrez Miles West
	Hall Nelson Whitmire
	Hancock Nichols Zaffirini
	Patrick, President of the Senate
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on April 7, 2021, by a
		rising vote.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate