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A woman reacts after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, Aug. 3, 2019. (CNS photo/Carlos Sanchez, Reuters)
Aug. 5. 2019
Catholic San FranciscoMexico's foreign secretary announced a series of diplomatic, legal and protective actions for the community and said justice will be sought for the victims of the attack.
“We are outraged. These hate crimes must never happen again,” Marcelo Ebrard said in a statement posted Aug. 4 on Mexico's government website.
He said Mexico categorically repudiates and condemns the cowardly attack carried out in El Paso, Texas, which it considers an act of terrorism against innocent Mexicans. Six Mexican nationals were among the 20 killed in the Aug. 3 attack at a Walmart store, which El Paso's sheriff said was targeted against Hispanics. Seven Mexican citizens were among the 26 injured.
Ebrard tweeted condolences for five Mexican nationals killed in the tragedy: 1. Sara Esther Regalado Cd. Juárez, CHIH. 2. Adolfo Cerros Hernández Aguascalientes, AGS. 3. Jorge Calvillo García. Torreón, COAH. 4. Elsa Mendoza de la Mora. Yepomera, CHIH. 5. Gloria Irma Márquez Juárez, CHIH.
In the shooting in El Paso, police arrested 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, of Allen, Texas. Several news organizations said local and federal authorities are investigating whether the shooting was a possible hate crime since the suspected gunman may be linked to a manifesto that speaks of the "Hispanic invasion" of Texas.
Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, tweeted Aug. 4: "More senseless gun killings ... more white nationalism ... more disregard for the sanctity of human life. ... We need to create the beloved community Jesus envisions now."
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a series of tweets on the tragedy and on the massacre of nine people at a bar in Dayton, Ohio, 12 hours later.
"We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain," President Trump said. "Likewise for those so seriously wounded. We can never forget them, and those many who came before them. Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!"
In a separate tweet, President Trump said "the Media has a big responsibility to life and safety in our Country. Fake News has contributed greatly to the anger and rage that has built up over many years. News coverage has got to start being fair, balanced and unbiased, or these terrible problems will only get worse!"
Ebrard said Mexico's foreign ministry will take a series of legal, diplomatic and protective measures to ensure justice for the victims of the shooting and to protect the rights of the Mexican communities in the United States.
“Mexico is outraged, but we are not proposing to meet hate with hate. We will act reasonably and firmly, in accordance to the law," he said.
Ebrard reiterated his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, saying the foreign ministry would work to ensure that they had legal representation and would accompany them in taking the necessary steps during the criminal investigation begun by U.S. authorities.
He also said the foreign ministry would ask for an investigation into how the gun used in the attack was sold.
He said the foreign ministry has provided information to Mexico's attorney general in preparation for possible legal action for terrorism against Mexican nationals in the United States.
“If appropriate, the Attorney General's Office will evaluate if the necessary elements exist to request the extradition of the perpetrator or perpetrators of this act," Ebrard said. "This should come as no surprise, because for Mexico, this individual is a terrorist."
He said the foreign ministry would send a diplomatic note to the U.S. government Aug. 5, respectfully but firmly asking it to take a clear and forceful position against hate crimes.
The foreign secretary said emergency meetings will be held in several U.S. states to instruct Mexico's consulates to provide additional measures of protection for Mexicans. The first of these meetings will take place in Texas, California, Illinois, New York and Georgia.
He added that Mexico will convene a conference of all Spanish-speaking countries with communities in the United States in order to advocate for defending the rights of Hispanics in the U.S. correctly and according to the law.
Catholic News Service contributed.