UVALDE, Texas — In a sobering portion of the Democratic National Convention's final night, Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose child was one of the 21 Uvalde school shooting victims, joined with others to share how gun violence has impacted them.
Introduced by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, the Georgia lawmaker whose son was shot and killed in 2012, former Sandy Hook Elementary teacher Abby Clements first described the events of that shooting in 2012, saying: "I carry that horrific day with me."
Mata-Rubio followed Clements, and shared her memories of May 24, 2022, when 19 children and two teachers were shot dead at Robb Elementary School by an 18-year-old with an AR-style rifle. She spoke about how the day began with her daughter, Lexi Rubio, being recognized at Robb for straight As and good citizenship.
"She wears a St. Mary's sweatshirt and a smile that lights up the room," Mata-Rubio recounted, visibly emotional. "Thirty minutes later, a gunman murders her, 18 classmates and two teachers. We are taken to a private room where police tell us she isn’t coming home. Uvalde is national news. Parents everywhere reach for their children. I reach out for the daughter I will never hold again.”
She was followed by Melody McFadden, whose mother and niece was fatally shot, and Chicago's Edgar Vilchez, whose high school classmate was killed.
Mata-Rubio has been an outspoken advocate for gun reform in the aftermath of Robb, having appeared before lawmakers in the Texas and U.S. capitols, urging them to consider tighter gun laws. Thursday's remarks to thousands of attendees from the DNC stage was by far her biggest platform, and briefly put the national spotlight back on the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
She has particularly advocated for raising the age to purchase semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21. She has also been seen at many public meetings and events demanding accountablity for the slow law enforcement response during the school shooting.
Mata-Rubio ran for mayor of Uvalde in 2023 and ultimately lost the race to Cody Smith, who had served as mayor of Uvalde years earlier.
Thursday was the final day of the Democratic National Convention, and ended with Vice President Kamala Harris giving a speech accepting her party's nomination for president.
Other DNC speakers from South Texas have included San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, who discussed immigration and touted Harris' efforts to secure the border Wednesday night.
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