By RICARDO MADRIGAL
Special to the NEWS
The public is invited to participate in the Seventh Annual Día de los Muertos Caminata on Sunday, November 1, honoring the victims of La Matanza of 1915, a dark chapter in Texas history marked by the killings of people of Mexican descent by Texas Rangers, local law enforcement, and vigilante groups.
The 3.5-mile memorial walk begins at 9 a.m. at W.H. Heavin Park, 705 N. Bowie Street, San Benito, and ends at the La Matanza of 1915 State Historical Marker near Exit 16 on U.S. Highway 77/83.
Those unable to walk the full distance are welcome to attend the 11 a.m. Memorial Ceremony and Human Rights Rally at the marker.
“This year, we are honored to welcome Domingo Garcia, Past National President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), who will address participants. The topic of his address is titled: “Legacy of La Matanza and Continued Injustice of ICE Domestic Terrorism.”
“As we remember the victims of past state-sanctioned violence, we must also confront present-day human rights concerns, including abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” said organizer Ricardo (Ric) Madrigal. “Remembering the past strengthens our commitment to justice, human dignity, and equal protection under the law.”
The historical marker, unveiled on October 17, 2017, was approved by the Texas Historical Commission following the efforts of the Refusing to Forget Project, an award-winning educational initiative dedicated to preserving the history of violence against Mexican Americans in Texas.
The annual Caminata brings the community together through the Día de los Muertos tradition of honoring the dead, ensuring that this painful chapter in Texas history is not forgotten.
As reported in last week’s San Benito News edition, in the aftermath of the murders, Texas State Representative Jose Tomas Canales launched an investigation into the Texas Rangers, who were eventually charged with 19 counts of misconduct.
Refusingtoforget.org lists the known victims, but some names have been lost to time. The San Benito marker is one of four in Texas.
The Refusing to Forget Project is an award-winning educational nonprofit researching, educating, and documenting racial violence on the Mexico-Texas border.
It produced the exhibit “Life and Death on the Border 1910-1920” in partnership with the Bullock Texas State History Museum and secured approval for the historical marker from the Texas State Historical Commission.
La Caminata is open to the public. For details, visit https://www.sanbenitomatanzacaminata.com.