The United States experiences so many mass shootings that journalists often don’t linger long after attacks. Reporters and photographers moved on to other stories, while the families and friends of the victims continued to grieve.
On this day a year ago, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Tamir Kalifa, an independent photojournalist based in Austin, went to Uvalde shortly after the shooting – but he kept coming back. Tamir temporarily moved to Uvalde to live with the victims’ families, renting a 320-square-foot shipping container that was converted into a home.
We dedicate today’s newsletter to some of the photos Tamir has taken over the past year and excerpts from his interviews with families.
Tamir tells us, “Grief cycles don’t match communication cycles. “We move on, but the family doesn’t.”
Mark the holiday
Xavier “XJ” Lopez, 10, loves Christmas. He loves coming to Uvalde’s grand annual festival, an event with holiday lights, decorations, and music. So this past Christmas – their first time without XJ – his parents, Abel Lopez and Felicha Martinez, and his siblings came to honor him.
The background music of the children’s choir played as they made their way through the event. Then they heard a loud bang that sounded like gunfire – an overloaded transformer had exploded. Felicha had a panic attack and collapsed on the grass.
“These days are supposed to be happy,” she said later that evening. “But they are just reminders that our lives are being divided.”
Swimming
The weekend before Tess Mata, 10, died, she told her sister Faith that she wanted to learn to swim. Faith is about to begin her senior year at Texas State University, where students jump into the river on campus as a graduation tradition. Tess wants to join her sister.
On her graduation day this month, Faith took her family for a walk to the river. Then she jumped in, clutching a photo of Tess. The photo is a sweet symbol – but also a painful reminder.
“Tess looks exactly like Faith,” said Veronica Mata, their mother. “So one day she came and said to me, she said, ‘I’m so sorry you have to look at me every day and think about Tess.’”
Visit their graves
The cemetery where most of the victims are buried has become a pillar in the lives of their families and friends. They gathered together for birthdays and holidays. They mow the lawn, decorate the gravestones and lie on the lush lawn that has grown.
Caitlyne Gonzales, 11, who lost many of her friends in the shooting, went to the cemetery to visit them. On a recent evening, she stopped by the grave of Jackie Cazares and turned on Taylor Swift music. She sings, dances and takes selfies. For a moment, it was as if they were all together again.
Protests and vigilance
Many parents have found purpose in the activity. Brett Cross, the uncle of Uziyah Garcia, 10 years old, who raised him as a son, spent 10 days camping outside district offices to protest, along with other family members and advocates. They requested the suspension of school police officers for their role in the delayed response.
The protest ended when the district halted the operations of the school police department and placed two officials on leave.
Family members have also testified before lawmakers at both the state and federal levels and protested beyond Uvalde. Tamir says the image of Jackie Cazares’ parents, Javier and Gloria, at an annual gun violence vigil in Washington, DC, surrounded by gun violence survivors, was one of those moments. The most powerful carving he had ever witnessed.
“It is important to consider each member of this family as part of a nationwide network of people who have been severely impacted by gun violence,” he said. “It’s one that’s growing every day.”
You can See more photos of Tamir here.
Tamir Kalifa Contribute reports and photos.
ARTS AND IDEAS
The show continues
This year’s Tony Awards will be different, but they will continue, after a group the playwrights persuaded the famous Hollywood writers association don’t choose program.
As part of the agreement, the award show will have no script material. But it will feature the usual dazzling performances from this year’s musical season. That’s important for Broadway, which has struggled to attract audiences since the pandemic and relies on the Tonys to garner interest.
PLAY, WATCH, EAT
What to cook?
