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‘Unheard’ march set here today

Melissa Federspill
Staff Writer

The Unheard Voices March and Rally, a display of solidarity for the 21 lives lost on May 24 at Robb Elementary School, will take place Sunday, July 10. 

The march will assemble at 5:30 p.m. at Robb Elementary, and continue down Geraldine St., turn left on South Getty and end at the downtown plaza with a rally. The community is invited to participate.

Those interested are also invited to a sign-making event at Jardin De Los Heroes Park at 1 p.m. There will be free materials provided for making signs and pizza will be served. 

Javier Cazares, father of 9-year-old Jacklyn Cazares who died 17 days before her 10th birthday as result of the school shooting, is helping organize the march and rally. He said the march is also a call for accountability and increased school safety. 

Cazares and his family, along with many other victims families, have made pleas to city leadership at council meetings for information about how events transpired on May 24, and they have asked the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board of trustees to address increased campus security going into next school year.

Cazares said the event has garnered support from numerous organizations, but they are still awaiting confirmation on some of their attendance. Supporting organizations including members of the Brown Berets, a grassroots group that advocates on behalf of people of color; the League of United Latin American Citizens, known as LULAC; and representatives from March for our Lives.

March for our Lives, formed in 2018, is a movement dedicated to student-led activism for ending gun violence. It began in March of 2018, a month after then-19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people. 

Cazares said many of the families of the victims are planning on participating. 

Given the number of high speed chases that occur in Uvalde as a result of human smuggling, Cazares asks that people are cognizant of their surroundings and obey law enforcement should a chase occur during the march.

City of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said he is going to take part in the march but will leave if his attendance becomes a distraction from their cause. 

Following the march, there will be rally at the downtown plaza, which will include food and refreshments and speakers.

Uvalde County Democratic Party chairman Carlos Lopez said there will be volunteers on-site to help individuals become registered voters. 

Sign-making event

Free materials for making a sign for display during the protest will be provided at Jardin De Los Heroes Park, 801 W. Main St., at 1 p.m. The event is being organized in partnership with March for Our Lives and by sisters Aracely and Sofia Torres.

They ask those who wish to make signs RSVP, so they can get a rough count on the amount of supplies needed. Those planning on attending can text Richelle Runyon at 830-333-4187, or visit the event page on Facebook, “Free Pizza and Sign-Making Community Event with March For Our Lives.”

Road Closures

There will be road closures along the rally route beginning around 5:30 to 5:45 p.m., Uvalde Police Department public information officer Jessica Zamora said. 

She said the closures will include streets and alleyways adjacent to Geraldine Street, such as South Crisp Street and Old Carrizo Road. 

She said South Getty will also be closed during the one-mile march, which UPD is anticipating will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

Roads will reopen when the congregation reaches the downtown plaza. 

mfederspill@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335