The tragic mass shooting that occurred on August 3, 2019, at a Walmart store located near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, left a profound and lasting impact on the community, claiming the lives of 23 innocent individuals and marking a dark chapter in the nations history. This act of racially motivated violence not only affected the Borderland community of El Paso but also resonated deeply within the broader Mexican American community across the United States. The Walmart shooting is widely regarded as the deadliest act of domestic terrorism aimed at Latinos in contemporary American history.

In the years following this horrific event, the spirit of remembrance has remained strong in El Paso. Annual commemorations, along with permanent memorials established at three key locations, serve as enduring symbols of the resilience and unity of this community, encapsulated in the phrase El Paso Strong.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, a makeshift memorial sprang up outside the Walmart, overflowing with flowers, religious candles, stuffed animals, artworks, and heartfelt notes of condolences, many written in both English and Spanish. This tribute, which spanned nearly a block behind the store, was a focal point for collective mourning. It featured the flags of the United States, Mexico, and Texas, underscoring the deep cultural ties and shared grief of the community. Among the poignant symbols of this memorial were white crosses handcrafted by Greg Zanis, an Illinois carpenter known affectionately as The Cross Man. Zanis dedicated his life to delivering over 26,000 personalized crosses to sites of mass shootings and disasters across the country before he passed away due to bladder cancer in 2020.

On August 14, 2019, a public memorial ceremony was held at Southwest University Park in Downtown El Paso, attended by thousands of community members and dignitaries, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Chihuahua Governor Javier Corral. The event became a powerful gathering, with nearly 5,000 attendees shining their cell phone lights like stars in the darkened stadium. El Paso Mayor Dee Margo addressed the crowd, emphasizing the community's commitment to love over hate, stating, We reassure that hate will never overcome love. Hate will not overcome who we are. Despite the disruption of a dust storm that forced many to leave early, the gathering served as a testament to the community's solidarity.

One of the lasting memorials, known as the Grand Candela, was dedicated on November 23, 2019. This impressive installation stands 30 feet tall and is composed of 22 individual gold-colored perforated aluminum arcs, with the 23rd arc representing the victim who succumbed to their injuries later. This solemn structure was erected in the southern part of the Walmart parking lot at 7101 Gateway West Boulevard, serving as both a place of reflection and an emblem of hope.

In 2021, on the second anniversary of the tragedy, the Healing Garden memorial was dedicated in Ascarate Park. This ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Mexicos Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, and comedian George Lopez. The Healing Garden features plaques that list the names of all 23 victims arranged in an illuminated half-circle, each inscribed with a beam of light that reaches into the night sky, symbolizing their enduring legacy.

Another significant site for remembrance is Ponder Park, located just a block north of Walmart across Viscount Boulevard. This park has become a gathering place for annual El Paso Firme processions, which protest against racism and honor the victims of the attack. During a remembrance event in 2023, Fernando Garcia, the executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights, reminded attendees, This was an attack against the heart of our community. Let's not forget about it. It's racism, xenophobia, and white supremacism.

Most recently, on the anniversary of the tragedy in 2024, the permanent August 3rd Memorial created by El Paso-based artist Albert Tino Ortega was unveiled. This granite installation features seven pillars arranged in a circular layout, each bearing the names of the victims, adorned over a mandala design that symbolizes harmony, interconnectedness, and unity. Such memorials ensure that the memories of those lost continue to inspire hope and promote love within the community.