By Karla Romero
The author is the daughter of Gloria Irma Márquez, one of 23 people killed in the mass shooting at the Cielo Vista Walmart on Aug. 3, 2019.
I write to reflect on the experiences of the Hispanic community in El Paso, particularly in relation to our history with racism and the justice system. As many of us know, our community has long faced systemic challenges, and unfortunately, those challenges persist.
However, it’s vital that we hold our leaders accountable, especially when it comes to ensuring that all families, regardless of language or background, are fully informed and respected in the judicial process.
As we look back on the aftermath of the tragic El Paso mass shooting on Aug. 3, 2019, I want to compare the different approaches taken by two district attorneys – Bill Hicks and James Montoya – in handling the victims’ families and the legal process. The families affected by this tragedy, many of whom are Spanish-speaking, deserve a system that respects them and communicates clearly in a way that helps them navigate an incredibly complex and painful time.
Under the leadership of Hicks, the approach to working with victims’ families was far more inclusive. He ensured that translators were available and made a consistent effort to explain the judicial process to the families.
There were numerous meetings, often lasting half a day, due to the large number of family members who had questions about the legal proceedings. These meetings were an opportunity for families to voice concerns, ask questions, and better understand the system that would be handling their loved ones’ cases. There was a genuine effort to ensure that no family member was left in the dark, regardless of their language.
However, under District Attorney Montoya, the experience has been markedly different. I’ve had two interactions with his office since he took office, and each time, I was the one reaching out, not the other way around.
The meetings I attended were limited to just a handful of people: two victim advocates, the DA, a prosecutor, and a social media manager. Each family was spoken to individually, rather than engaging in group conversations that could have allowed for a collective understanding and support system. This approach made it clear to me that communication and outreach to the families were limited at best.
Additionally, while I cannot speak to whether DA Montoya is fluent in Spanish, I can tell you that all our dialogues took place in English. This presents a significant challenge for many families in El Paso, whose first language is Spanish. Without a translator present, many families may be left struggling to fully understand the legal proceedings and their rights in this process.
The contrast between the two approaches is stark. Under Hicks, families were not only supported but also given the tools to better understand the judicial system. With Montoya, however, the process has felt more isolating, with less effort to ensure that families are fully informed and supported in their time of need.
In addition to these challenges, one of the most troubling decisions made by District Attorney Montoya was his unilateral removal of the death penalty from consideration, which would have taken the case to trial. This decision was entirely his own.
In one of our two meetings, I confronted him about this change in stance. I asked him why he had changed his position, as he had the power to make change, and I questioned what kind of message this would send to our community. This tragedy didn’t just affect my family – it affected our entire community. This was a hate crime.
Yet, when I raised these concerns, they fell on deaf ears.
Montoya holds the power to significantly impact this community, and with that power comes a responsibility to engage with the families and listen to their concerns. This case should have gone to trial, where it would be left to a jury to decide whether the defendant should face the death penalty or life in prison.
Instead, it is evident that Montoya used this case as a stepping stone for his own agenda, bypassing the will of the community and denying the families a voice in the process.
He told me that it was very difficult to prove that the defendant was a future danger, and with an air of arrogance, he stated that it was solely up to him whether or not he would seek the death penalty. He also assured me that he had not been keeping track of how many families agreed or disagreed with the decision. He insisted that the decision was entirely his own.
However, in his Tuesday news conference, District Attorney Montoya contradicted his previous statements. He claimed there was a “large consensus” among the families that influenced his decision not to proceed with a trial and stated that he was “for certain” that if the case went to trial, the defendant would likely face the death penalty.
This public statement further highlights the inconsistencies in his approach, especially when, in our meeting, he told me that the decision was solely his. I was the only person present at that meeting, so I cannot say with certainty that all families’ input was taken into account.
The families of the victims deserve more than this. It is not enough to be told one thing behind closed doors and something entirely different in public. We deserve transparency, respect, and a system that listens to us.
I cannot confidently say that the judicial system has been properly explained to the families of the El Paso mass shooting victims, particularly the Spanish-speaking families. There has been little outreach, and the limited communication has failed to address the widespread concerns many families have about the system.
As a community, we deserve better. Every family affected by this tragedy deserves to have their questions answered, their concerns addressed, and their voices heard in a way that respects their language and culture.
I will continue to advocate for transparency and accountability in the system, ensuring that all families in El Paso, regardless of their language or background, have a fair and just experience.
People in positions of power rarely make a change; it is always the people at the bottom who drive change. It is our moral obligation to keep our community safe from district attorneys like James Montoya and individuals like Patrick Crusius.
The El Paso community was not ready for an act of terrorism in our quiet neighborhood, but now we are aware. It is our responsibility to ensure that this never happens again. We must hold ourselves accountable to vote for elected officials who care as much as we do and remove those who prove otherwise.
As a veteran and the daughter of one of the victims of Mexican descent, I can recognize integrity, and I can also recognize when it is lacking. The decisions made by District Attorney Montoya, particularly regarding the death penalty and the handling of this case, have shown an evident lack of transparency and accountability.
We must hold our leaders to a higher standard, especially when they hold such significant influence over the lives of the families and the future of our community. Our strength is in our unity; our weakness, at this moment, is District Attorney James Montoya.
Thank you for your time and for standing with the victims and their families.
Karla Romero is organizing a rally at 9 a.m. Monday, March 31, which is Cesar Chavez Day, in front of the Cesar Chavez Mural in Ascarate Park.
The post Opinion: I lost my mother in the Walmart mass shooting. DA James Montoya let us down appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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