(Staff Photo by Ray Quiroga)
By RICARDO MADRIGAL
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito bore witness to the killings of an untold number of people of Mexican descent in the early 1900’s at the hands of the Texas Rangers, law enforcement, and state-sanctioned vigilante groups. Today, a state historical marker memorializes this aspect of San Benito’s history and stands in a parking area at the city’s outskirts upon taking Exit 16 on U.S. Highway 77/83.
The historical marker, titled “La Matanza of 1915,” is one of only four throughout the State of Texas recognizing the history of violence, racism, and ethnic oppression suffered by Mexican-Americans in Texas. It recounts the thousands of lynchings and extrajudicial executions carried out without due process of law.
Organizers of the Fourth Annual Caminata (march) invited the public to participate in the three and 1⁄2-mile march to honor and remember La Matanza (the slaughter) victims as part of a Día de los Muertos’ observance held in November. The march began at 9 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, at W.H. Heavin Park, on Bowie, in San Benito and ended at the state historical marker.
“This year, direct descendants of La Matanza’s victims, Rodolfo Muñiz and Modesto Dominguez, will march with us,” said the event organizer Ricardo Madrigal. Paraphrasing the inscription on the historical marker, he added, “Rodolfo Muñiz was one of the first victims, and he was lynched on this road from San Benito to Brownsville on July 29, 1915, while in the custody of local law enforcement.”\
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1 comment
My mom told me that happened when she was little because they hanged any Mexicans who were out after 6 p.m.