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NPR’s Juana Summers speaks with Kimberly Mata-Rubios in regards to the Division of Justice report launched at present on their findings of the Uvalde faculty capturing. Her daughter Lexi was one of many 19 college students
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
And now we flip to Kimberly Mata-Rubio. Her 10-year-old daughter, Lexi, was one of many 19 college students killed at Robb Elementary Faculty that day. We have spoken with Kimberly various occasions on this program within the months for the reason that capturing about her daughter and what her household has been going by. Kimberly, it is good to speak with you once more.
KIMBERLY MATA-RUBIO: Thanks for having me.
SUMMERS: I imply, I’ve to think about that at present is a tough day on high of exhausting days for you, your husband, Felix, and your youngsters. And I do know that you just have been at at present’s Justice Division briefing. What went by your thoughts as you heard the small print of all of the failures that occurred that day?
MATA-RUBIO: I believe we because the households, for the reason that physique digicam footage was launched, have identified that there was an enormous failure on Could 24, 2022. However listening to the U.S. Lawyer Common say this, now the world is aware of, too. And nobody can cover from it.
SUMMERS: That is an in depth report, greater than 500 pages all stated. So I perceive that you just, the opposite households, haven’t had an opportunity to learn or digest all the factor. However in what you may have seen, is there something that’s significantly significant to you?
MATA-RUBIO: A number of the quotes by the officers and the directions not to enter rooms 111, 112 have been very exhausting to learn. I used to be not conscious that the crime scene was compromised. That was one thing I used to be studying for the primary time. And I hope to get an opportunity to learn the report in its entirety within the subsequent few days. So I wish to know extra about that.
SUMMERS: One factor that we heard from another dad and mom at present was that whereas the names of among the regulation enforcement officers who didn’t act that day have been revealed on this report, others weren’t. Why is that vital – naming these regulation enforcement officers?
MATA-RUBIO: I believe it is vital as a result of the neighborhood must be acquainted with who was at fault to allow them to make choices themselves and in order that we will have accountability. Additionally, my daughter is listed on this report. She’s listed as a result of she was murdered in her fourth grade classroom. She misplaced the precise to privateness. Why have they got the precise to privateness?
SUMMERS: As you talked about, Lawyer Common Merrick Garland is there in Uvalde, and we heard him earlier describing this regulation enforcement response as a failure. He additionally spoke to households. What did he say to you and the opposite households?
MATA-RUBIO: He greeted us every personally earlier than the beginning of the briefing on Wednesday evening. For me, he got here up, and he noticed that I used to be sporting my Saint Mary’s sweater. And he stated that he observed that Lexi had her T-shirt on in her mural, and we mentioned her scholarship and her aspirations to be a lawyer sooner or later. He was very emotional when he addressed us as a bunch. And I actually recognize him coming down and saying what this neighborhood wanted to listen to. Regulation enforcement response was a failure.
SUMMERS: Was there something that you just want that Garland or different Justice Division officers there in Uvalde had stated at present that they didn’t say?
MATA-RUBIO: No. I additionally appreciated that he spoke on, regardless that it is not listed within the report, the failure by the federal authorities to have gun laws in place. That is how we obtained right here. That is how we proceed to have these incidents happen.
SUMMERS: I imply, we have now conversations, sadly, like this within the wake of shootings all throughout this nation – in film theaters and colleges and cities massive and small. What do you hope will occur subsequent now that each one of those particulars have been made public on this in depth report from the Justice Division?
MATA-RUBIO: I hope on the native stage that there’s accountability for the people who’re at fault. I hope the DA pushes ahead for felony prosecutions. However I additionally hope that this serves as a reminder to different communities and regulation enforcement companies that this could occur to them and that they need to put together. And much more than that, I hope that People get up and notice that we do not have to reside this manner and that we ought to be taking a extra proactive response.
SUMMERS: Most of the particulars of the defective police response described by Lawyer Common Garland as a failure – they’ve already been made public. So I am curious. For you personally, how does it really feel now that in spite of everything this time, these particulars are accounted for in a federal report?
MATA-RUBIO: It is exhausting to learn. However, I imply, it’s a necessity. And all people must be taking a look at this report, studying it intimately and following suggestions.
SUMMERS: I wish to ask you – it has been some months since we final spoke. Today must be excruciating. How are you and your loved ones doing?
MATA-RUBIO: Supporting one another. , the children – they have been in school, and it is enterprise as normal. And I inform my older ones to not learn the information once I know one thing’s popping out to guard them. , you must go and listen to all of this data and to do, , media. After which my youngsters get house from faculty, and we’ll rush to Bandera to go see my daughter play basketball. And I’ve to be current for them.
SUMMERS: Yeah. Whenever you and I final spoke, you have been operating for mayor of Uvalde. And once we talked, you advised me then that folks in your neighborhood that you just have been speaking to – as you have been knocking on doorways, they wished to maneuver ahead. And also you additionally advised me that you just felt that folks wanted to heal. Right now, do you assume that this accounting of what occurred at Robb Elementary faculty – do you assume having this all specified by this way helps Uvalde transfer ahead to the form of therapeutic that you just talked about?
MATA-RUBIO: I believe it is a step in the precise route. I believe it’s some solutions that we have had inquiries to. However finally, the steps afterward and what our native officers do with this data goes to dictate the place we go from right here.
SUMMERS: Kimberly Mata-Rubio, thanks a lot for speaking with us at present.
MATA-RUBIO: Thanks.
(SOUNDBITE OF STORMZY SONG, “FIRE + WATER”)
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