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More than a century later “Slaughterhouse”a bloody decade during which Mexican-American families become victims of racial violence on the Texas border with Mexicotheir descendants, historians and scientists are
More than a century later “Slaughterhouse”a bloody decade during which Mexican-American families become victims of racial violence on the Texas border with Mexicotheir descendants, historians and scientists are fighting to ensure that this part of history is not forgotten.
This massacre, which occurred on this border between 1910 and 1920, is considered one of worst cases of racial violence in the US, but little appears in the official history.
Both men and women People of Mexican descent have been tortured and killed by strangers, neighbors, guards, or even at the hands of the authorities themselves.including the Texas Rangers Police Department.
Texas Rangers in the early 20th century | Photo: Portal to Texas History.
“My grandfather and great-grandfather were killed during this period of violence against the Mexican-American community in Texas.”said EFE Trinidad Gonzalez, professor of history at South Texas College.
The scientist noted that during this dark period, great uncertainty reigned in the border region. fueled by the Mexican revolution which took place simultaneously in a neighboring country.
Gonzalez said.
My grandfather had keys to many ranches; A group of bandits forced him to open several bars. When the rangers came to question him about the facts, my great-grandfather was with him, and my grandmother heard only the shots that killed both of them.
The historian emphasized that many of the people who died at the hands of the Rangers or “Rinches”as Mexican Americans were called at the time, were arrested on false charges.
“The story was the same: they were shot because they were trying to escape.”– Gonzalez lamented.
Texas Rangers pose with the bodies of suspected Mexican bandits. | Photo: Portal to Texas History.
He pointed out that this racial resentment is being fueled at all levels, including state government.
As for his grandfather and great-grandfather, he considers his family “lucky” to be able to bury them. He says this was common for the bodies were left out in the open as a “warning” to others.
One of the main reasons for the “massacre” was the desire take the land away from many of these Mexican-American familieswho for generations owned large territories, says the expert.
Gonzalez teamed up with historians, educators and descendants of these victims to create the project. “Refusal to Forget” tell this tragic part of the country’s history.
The team, which has been working on this project for more than ten years, believes that This period did not have the same prevalence as violence against the African American community.
Benjamin Johnson, a participant in the project, spoke about this. EFE.
This project aims to preserve the memory of the violence that occurred along the Texas-Mexico border. However, this is almost never read about in history books or even in the media.
The group has created a website that tells the story of La Matanza, makes presentations, and recently published a book commemorating the 100th anniversary of the bloody events.
They also managed to install memorial plaques at various points along the border, where honor the memory of the deceasedwhich number in the hundreds, although no one knows the exact number.
The exhibition is currently running “Life and Death on the Border 1910-1920”which will be on display in various Texas museums until May 2025.
Johnson emphasized that not all Texans supported these unpunished killings and that some fought to end this social injustice.
It is very important for all Americans, regardless of their background (to know) that we have dark periods in our own history where abuses and crimes were committed against our own people.
An academic from Loyola University in Chicago believes that The “danger” is those people who believe that this country has never made mistakes. because, in their minds, they are less likely to “see” it even when it passes before their eyes.
He regrets it crisis on the border with Mexico And constant attacks on migrants who are planning to seek asylum.
“We see rhetoric demonizing migrants, this is not quite the same as what we saw during the Massacre, since migrants are only passing through and coming from other countries, but nevertheless, we see comments that They call them ‘criminals’.”said.
As with the Massacre, Johnson believes the most dangerous thing is that the attacks are coming from the same people who hold high positions in government.
Sonia Hernandez, another of the founders of the organization Refusal to Forget, said EFE They hope that their efforts will not only serve to educate the public about the history of this country, but also make people renounce violence.
There is a deep history behind the anti-immigrant rhetoric we are seeing now. I think it’s important for people to understand that when our politicians and representatives use a derogatory word like “animals” towards a group of people, there are consequences.
EFE
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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