SAN ANTONIO — The Uvalde Foundation For Kids launched a hunger strike against the Uvalde Police Department following an independent report that exonerated the officers who responded to the Robb Elementary shooting.
The nonprofit's founder Daniel Chapin announced that the group was launching a hunger strike and calling for the removal of Uvalde police officers: Javier Martinez, Louis Landry, and Eduardo Canales. The three officers were among the first responders on scene at Robb Elementary and who the foundation said represented "abject failure by the entire police department to act to save the lives of children."
The announcement of the strike follows a sit-out by Brett Cross, father of Uziyah Garcia, a Robb Elementary victim and gun safety advocate. Cross is camping outside the Uvalde Police headquarters and is demanding the removal of the same officers. Cross has vowed to remain outside the headquarters until the officers are removed.
Chapin released the following statement.
"Our foundation is not surprised by the failures, cover-ups & distraction techniques used by the Uvalde Police department to avoid taking true responsibility, since that day in Uvalde. We are not surprised because it is the system itself in place which is broken at the highest levels. We have, however, become increasingly angered as we have watched mothers & fathers such as Brett continue to reach for hope within a system that increasingly has made promises and failed to follow through on them. The foundation joins Brett & the families in calling for the removal of these officers & a move toward some true accountability,"
The national nonprofit is dedicated to preventing school violence and was formed in response to the Robb Elementary shooting. The foundation said the hunger strike will continue until their demands are met.
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