Thread by @nikigriswold

THREAD: I’m at Robb Elementary school in #Uvalde where dozens of people have gathered for the Unheard Voices March and Rally in honor of the 21 victims killed here more than a month ago. Follow for updates

Victims’ families reached out to the Brown Berets for help in organizing today’s event. I’ve spoken to several parents of victims who say they want the rally to honor their children, but also demonstrate the community’s demand for gun reform & accountability from law enforcement

Marchers are starting at Robb Elementary and walking to the town square

Chants of “no justice, no peace” “Remember their names” “Not one more child”

Organizers estimate at least 1,000 people are participating in today’s march, led by the family and friends of the 21 victims

It’s at least 105 degrees out and a heat advisory is in effect. Volunteers are handing out cold water bottles to people as they march

Marchers have made it to the town square. Speakers are addressing the crowd, encouraging people to vote to hold lawmakers accountable and elect leaders who will prioritize gun control measures. Chants of “vote them out” erupt

Kimberly Rubio, mother of Lexi Rubio, spoke to the crowd in tears & started by reading the mission statements of the Uvalde PD and the Uvalde CISD PD. “What I want, no one can give me. I want my daughter back. If I can’t have her, those who failed her will never know peace”

“We want answers, we seek justice, and we demand change. And we will never rest. Remember their names”

Family members of each of the victims came to the podium to say their lost loved ones’ names.

Heartbroken family members of victims are speaking to the crowd, remembering their loved ones, and demanding concrete action from lawmakers to pass meaningful gun reform measures

.@BetoORourke is in the crowd

.@BetoORourke addressing the crowd

9 year old AJ, who survived the gunman’s massacre in room 112, addresses the crowd, saying he doesn’t feel safe and is afraid to go back to school in the fall

16 year old Destiny Esquivel, Maite Rodriguez’s cousin, remembers Maite, and demands accountability from law enforcement. Her shirt has green converse on it, which Maite was wearing the day she died

Irma Garcia’s youngest daughter remembers her mother, who was shot and killed defending her students. Her father died days later of a heart attack— his family say he died of grief.

“My gracious and perfect parents, when we meet again in heaven, we can finally have our first dance, since y’all won’t be there for my quinceañera.”

@davidhogg111 from @AMarch4OurLives also spoke to the crowd expressing solidarity with the Uvalde community

Stepping away to write. Story TK