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El Paso crowd decries racism week after mass shooting

Organizers said Saturday's march will begin at the port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexican officials say eight Mexican nationals were among 22 people killed in last weekend's attack at a Walmart.

A man unloads funeral wreaths for a memorial service for Ivan Manzano, who was killed in the El Paso mass shooting, outside the Perches funeral home in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. Families of those killed when a gunman opened fire at an El Paso Walmart are gathering at funerals on each side of the U.S.-Mexico border to remember loved ones.
A man unloads funeral wreaths for a memorial service for Ivan Manzano, who was killed in the El Paso mass shooting, outside the Perches funeral home in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. Families of those killed when a gunman opened fire at an El Paso Walmart are gathering at funerals on each side of the U.S.-Mexico border to remember loved ones.Read moreChristian Torres. / AP
    by Cedar Attanasio, The Associated Press
    Updated 
    Published 

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — More than 100 people marched through the Texas border city of El Paso on Saturday, denouncing racism and calling for stronger gun laws one week after 22 people were killed in a mass shooting that authorities say was carried out by a man targeting Mexicans.

Chanting "gun reform now," '' El Paso strong" and "aquí estamos y no nos vamos" — Spanish for "here we are and we are not leaving" — the marchers included Hispanic, white and black people dressed in white to symbolize peace and carrying 22 white wooden crosses to represent the victims of the shooting at an El Paso Walmart.

The man charged in with capital murder in the attack, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius told investigators he targeted Mexicans at the store with an AK-47 rifle, an El Paso detective said in an arrest affidavit. Federal prosecutors have said they're weighing hate-crime charges.

A survivor of the shooting, Jessica Coca Garcia, spoke to those gathered at the League of United Latin American Citizens' "March for a United America."

"Racism is something I always wanted to think didn't exist. Obviously, it does," Coca Garcia said after rising froma wheelchair. Bandages covered gunshot wounds to her leg.

"I love you, El Paso," she said, her voice cracking. "This is where I'm going to stay."

Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, also attended and spoke to the crowed. O’Rourke has blamed President Donald Trump’s rhetoric for spreading fear and hate, leading Trump to tweet that O’Rourke should “be quiet.”