Remembered: A historical marker at the rest area off Hwy. 83 near San Benito, headed towards Brownsville, commemorates brutal killings which occurred in the area during the early 1900’s. (San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
By ARABELLA SERRATA
editor@sbnewspaper.com
The Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Caminata is slated for Nov. 3, from 9-11 a.m. starting at Heavin Park and ending at La Matanza of 1915 Historical Marker at the rest area on Frontage Rd headed towards Brownsville.
Ricardo Madrigal and his wife, Janie Algeria, work together to bring the yearly walk to life. According to Madrigal, the walk started in 2020 when he, Algeria, and a few of their close acquaintances wanted to “get outside” during the pandemic. As time went on, they gathered more people for their cause. The couple knew about the historical marker and its significance, so they chose that as the endpoint.
Madrigal shared that the walk coincided with Dia de los Muertos because the holiday is about honoring those who passed.
“We celebrate their lives because it is an important part of history in the Rio Grande Valley that most people don’t know about,” said Madrigal.
He emphasized the importance of public knowledge of critical historical events, mentioning that he was never taught about these issues in school.
“We never knew about the history of San Benito. It was a killing field for law enforcement,” said Madrigal.
T-shirts will be given out in limited quantities. Interested parties are encouraged to register beforehand. An official press release confirmed that a member of the Refusing to Forget Project will speak at the event.
“This year, we are honored to have Juan Carmona, a history instructor and a member of the Refusing to Forget Project address the marchers about this dark and bloody period of the Rio Grande Valley’s past that has often been missing in the curriculum of Texas History,” stated the release.
The release also stated that State Senator Morgan LaManita, District 27, will deliver a resolution.
The event is dedicated to the remembrance and respect of those who passed during La Matanza of 1915.
According to refusingtoforget.org, La Matanza saw the murder of many Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Texas at the hands of Texas Rangers. The killings were due to the ranger’s assumption that the victims were associated with gangs in the area. This led to the bloodshed of innocent citizens.
In the aftermath of the murders, Texas State Representative Jose Tomas Canales launched an investigation on the Texas Rangers. The Rangers were charged with 19 charges of misconduct. In 2017, a marker was placed near San Benito to commemorate those who died. Refusingtoforget.org displays a list of the known names of the victims, but some names have been lost to time. The press release notes that the marker in San Benito is one of four in Texas.
The Refusing to Forget Project is an award-winning educational nonprofit on racial violence on the Mexico-Texas border. It produced the exhibit, “Life and Death on the Border 1910-1920” in partnership with the Bullock Texas State History Museum and was responsible for getting the historical marker approved by the Texas State Historical Commission.
Registration and more information on the walk can be found on the official website at truchargv.com. Participation is free. Those interested in the history behind the event can read more about it at refusingtoforget.org. The walk will span three and a half miles and end at the marker, located at Exit 16, U.S. Highway 77/83.
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