El Paso has shown great resilience, unity, as well as an admirably low level of tolerance in the face of great hate and unimaginable pain. The Latinx community has come together to show their support through proper coverage, events, and continually used music as a means of healing and fundraising. Now, several civil rights organizations and musicians have joined forces to plan for “a day of action against white supremacy,” which will include musical performances, a march, and speeches from the likes of Residente.
Musical acts will include rapper and “artivista” Rebeca Lane, the experimental, Grammy-award winning Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia, and beloved Chicano artist Cuco. News of the organized call to action came earlier this week from the Border Network for Human Rights (BHNR) who is working with Refugee And Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA), and others to make it happen.
The event, which will take place on September 7th, comes exactly a month after dozens of vigils took place in El Paso under the same name — El Paso Firme. In terms of purpose, this is meant to present a unified front, educate, and provide a safe space for Latinxs to breathe easy as they continue to persist knowing that “no wall or cage can restrain a song.”
“El Paso Firme means we are united as we move forward, with firm steps and clear vision,” Erika Andiola, Chief Advocacy Officer at RAICES, said in a statement. “We know that as long as we continue fighting for our rights, we will prevail against the reactionary and racist views strangling our country