Local organizations and community leaders joined in a protest on Friday during the first day of the annual conference of the National Rifle Association (NRA), held in Houston, Texas, after the state was shocked by the shooting in a primary school in the city of Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers died.
The demonstrations, which took place outside the George R. Brown Convention Center, were attended by Black Lives Matter Houston, Moms Demand Action, FIEL and the group Interfaith. The opposition candidate for governor of Texas, Democrat Beto O’Rourke, was also present.
Prior to the demonstrations, the mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, said that the planned protests will take place outside the headquarters of the NRA convention, and said there would be a designated “protest zone.”
Although there are concerns about a possible cancellation of the convention, Turner stated that they do not have the option to cancel because the meeting It’s been on the books for two years. He emphasized that the city is contractually obligated to continue with its plans.
The NRA convention will have the presence of former President Donald Trump as a guest, as well as Texas Senator Ted Cruz. It is scheduled from 27 to 29 May.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott was expected to attend, but issued a statement saying he will not participate in the convention.
Abbott’s office said that while the governor will not be there, he will It will be projected in a video that was previously recorded where the official offers words to the attendees.
The demonstrations take place three days after the tragic shooting in the city of Uvalde, where 19 people died after a teenager from 18 years, identified as Salvador Ramos, opened fire on a classroom at Robb Elementary.
The author of the massacre was shot by the authorities, who were questioned for their late response to the incident, a fact that was admitted this Friday by the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Steve McCraw .