WASHINGTON, DC—Today UnidosUS—the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization—is calling on elected officials to act in the wake of yesterday’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The United States has seen more than 200 mass shootings this year alone, and this is the 27th school shooting in 2022. Uvalde is 72 percent Latino, and nearly 90 percent of students at Robb Elementary School are Hispanic.

Janet Murguía, President and CEO, UnidosUS, released the following statement: 

“We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken over yesterday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. This is yet another senseless and preventable mass shooting that has taken the lives of innocent people going about their ordinary day—this time a group of young schoolchildren and their teachers on one of the last days of the school year.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families and to the tight-knit, majority-Latino community who are grieving. We know from too many prior experiences that providing immediate and sustained support—both within the school system and throughout the community—is of utmost importance now and for long-term healing. UnidosUS is working with leaders and partners on the ground, including our Texas UnidosUS Affiliates, to help deliver culturally relevant mental health resources and services as quickly as possible.

“But this can’t go on. We are the only country where mass shootings happen so often. It’s long past time for the people we elected to represent us to step up and eradicate the American crisis of gun violence. We are calling on Congress to take meaningful action and vote on common sense gun reform we have endorsed—including universal background checks, closing related loopholes, and a ban on assault weapons. This is an issue of great importance to our community, and UnidosUS will engage with Latino and Latina voters to make sure we hold our elected leaders accountable.”