Candlelights dotted the perimeter of Main Circle late Wednesday evening as the community gathered to mourn the victims of the school shooting at an elementary school in Texas, as well as those killed in the racist attack at Tops Supermarket on May 14.

What did you think?

The community’s vigil — organized by incoming all-school presidents Chris Mudry ’22 and Richie Mamam-Nbiba ’22 and current all-school president Sydney Goldstein ’22 — came after a gunman unleashed a barrage of bullets inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday. At least 19 children and two teachers died in the massacre, state officials said.

The attack came as second through fourth graders at the school were wrapping up the school year, which was set to end on Thursday, according to the school district. The gunman — identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos — reportedly shot his grandmother in the face before driving to the rural school and barricading himself in a classroom and firing on the children and teachers inside in what became the deadliest American school shooting since Sandy Hook a decade ago.

News of the shooting sent shock waves through Uvalde — which is a rural, majority-Latino town of about 15,200 — and convulsed the nation, prompting widespread calls for stricter gun control and broader gun reform.

In a speech delivered Tuesday evening, President Biden echoed the anger and frustration of many Americans at the lack of legislative progress. “Why are we willing to live with this carnage?” He asked. “Why do we keep letting this happen?”

Benjamin Who '24

Benjamin Who is a former editor-in-chief of The Record.

May 26, 2022

After Texas School Shooting, Community Mourns Victims of Surge in Gun Violence

Benjamin Who '24

BENJAMIN WHO '24/THE HOTCHKISS RECORD