The father of one of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting has called on right-wing lawmakers not to mention the names of the children killed on the anniversary of the tragedy.
Brett Cross, parent of 10-year-old Uzziah Garcia, said, “I don’t want a single politician who figuratively spits in our face or mentions our children.” wrote on Twitter.
He specifically called out Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a host of state and federal lawmakers and law enforcement officials.
“From the bottom of my heart. F*** you all,” Mr Cross wrote.
The Uvalde community is still demanding accountability for the mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers inside a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School on May 24 last year.
A criminal investigation into law enforcement’s mistaken response to the shooting is still ongoing, which has left many unanswered questions for the families of the victims.
According to the Associated Press, five officers under investigation for their roles in the response to the shooting have resigned or been fired.
And the parents of the victims say they feel frustrated by the lack of transparency on the part of the authorities in Uvalde.
A year earlier, 10-year-old Uzziah Garcia was killed along with 18 of his classmates and two teachers at Robb Elementary School.
(AP)
Mr Cross wrote on Twitter that the last time he saw the Uzi was at 10 pm when he was murdered.
“I put her to bed, stroked her hair and told her I loved her. I didn’t see her on the 24th because I left for work before the kids went to school,” Mr Cross said. Wrote on Tuesday night.
He said he had been “haunted” for the past year, not knowing what the Uzi was wearing when he was killed.
“Today marks one year since I heard her voice, heard her say I love you, heard her bounding the stairs. It’s been a year since I’ve seen his infectious smile,” he wrote,
“I’m trying so hard today not to break down. I know life isn’t fair, but the fact is, it’s absolutely cruel. I hate this life without her. I hate this world without her.” Am.
Stones adorn the victims of the May 3 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas
(associated Press)
As of 9.30am on Wednesday, Mr Cruz posted tweets promoting his latest podcast episode and an interview on Fox News on Tuesday night, but made no mention of the anniversary of the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
Mr. Abbott and Mr. Patrick were also conspicuously silent on Wednesday morning about the Uvalde anniversary.
Beto O’Rourke, who ran for governor last year, led several family tributes to the victims early Wednesday.
“Sending love to the families in Uvalde today and every day,” he wrote.
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