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Correction: In the audio of this story, Futuro Media mistakenly introduces Caitlyne Gonzales’ parent as Arnulfo ‘Nef’ Gonzalez. That is incorrect. His name is Neftali ‘Nef’ Gonzalez.

 

LATINO USA EPISODE: UVALDE RISING

AIRING JUNE 2, 2023

MARIA: HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY. QUE PASÒ? LATINO USA IS CELEBRATING 30 YEARS. TREINTA AÑOS, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, DEAR LISTENER. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US EXACTLY WHAT LATINO USA HAS MEANT TO YOU? DO YOU HAVE A BIRTHDAY WISH FOR US? LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL AT 646-571-1224. THAT’S 646-571-1224. AND WE MIGHT FEATURE YOUR MESSAGE IN AN UPCOMING SHOW. GRACIAS.

LATINO USA ARCHIVE: THIS IS LATINO USA, THE RADIO JOURNAL OF NEWS AND CULTURE. THAT’S LATINO USA, LATINO USA, IT’S LATINO USA. I’M MARIA HINOJOSA. WE BRING YOU STORIES THAT ARE UNDERREPORTED, BUT THAT MATTER TO YOU OVERLOOKED BY THE REST OF THE MEDIA. AND WHILE THE COUNTRY IS STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH THESE, WE LISTEN TO THE STORIES OF BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS. DO UNITED LATINO FRONT A CULTURAL RENAISSANCE, ORGANIZING AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE MOVEMENT. I’M MARIA HINOJOSA. NO SE VAYAN.

[LATINO USA MUSIC]

FUTURO INVESTIGATES SONIC ID

DISCLAIMER:

DEAR LISTENER,THE UPCOMING EPISODE IS ABOUT THE UVALDE MASSACRE. WE HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTS OF JOY AND HEALING, BUT SOME OF IT IS TOUGH TO LISTEN TO. SO PLEASE TAKE CARE.

TAPE

MARIA: WAIT, OH MY GOSH. I TOTALLY WANT TO DO THAT. LAUGHS]

PRE-ROLL

IT’S A COLD RAINY AND GRAY DAY IN LATE JANUARY IN UVALDE, TEXAS. BUT THIS WEATHER IS NOT STOPPING 10-YEAR-OLD CAITLYNE GONZALES. RIGHT NOW, SHE’S RUNNING AROUND IN A BLACK JACKET AND CROCS. SHE’S ZOOMS ACROSS HER BACKYARD ON A MAKESHIFT ZIPLINE THAT’S ATTACHED TO TWO TREES ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE YARD AND, WELL, I’VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

TAPE 

MARIA: DO I HAVE TO GET UP ON THIS?

CAITLYNE: I CAN PUSH YOU UP.

MARIA: I DON’T KNOW (LAUGHS). REALLY? DALE, OTRA.

MARIA: CAITLYNE LOOKS LIKE SHE’S FLYING THROUGH HER BACKYARD, HER SUPER LONG, SUPER DARK BROWN HAIR FLOWING BEHIND HER. SHE’S BURSTING WITH ENERGY, AND, WELL, SHE’S VERY INSISTENT THAT I HAVE TO GET ON THIS ZIPLINE.

TAPE

CAITLYNE: SIT

MARIA: THIS WAY?

CAITLYNE: YES 

MARIA: ARE YOU SURE? HOW COME I’M NOT FEELING SO GOOD ABOUT THIS?

MARIA: AND, YEAH, I’M NERVOUS, BUT ALSO I REALLY WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO CONNECT WITH CAITLYNE.

TAPE 

CAITLYNE: YOU READY?

MARIA:  (LAUGHS)

MARIA LAUGHING AND SCREAMING ON THE ZIPLINE

MARIA: HER PARENTS, GLADYS AND ARNULFO, WHO GOES BY NEF, STARE AT US FROM THE PORCH. I SEE THEM LAUGHING AS WE ARE STRUGGLING TO GET OFF THE ZIPLINE. AND I FINALLY GET BACK ON MY FEET, CAITLYNE GRABS ME BY THE HAND, TAKES ME OVER TO A SLAB OF CONCRETE NEAR THEIR HOUSE, KIND OF IN THE BACKYARD, AND WE START GETTING READY TO PAINT. WE ARE DOING ABSTRACT PAINTING AS A WAY TO HEAL AND WIND DOWN.

TAPE 

MARIA: CAN I START?

CAITLYNE: YES

MARIA: DO YOU MIND IF I USE MY FINGERS?

CAITLYNE: I DON’T MIND AT ALL. I’M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I’M GONNA DO.

MARIA: EARLIER IN THE DAY, CAITLYNE’S PARENTS TOLD ME THAT SHE FLUCTUATES BETWEEN SEEMING HAPPY AND CAREFREE TO EXPERIENCING SEVERE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS, WHICH CAN CAUSE HER TO SHUT DOWN AND JUST NOT ENGAGE.

ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THIS SCENE — THAT IS CALM AND RELAXING — I ACTUALLY TRIED TO SPEAK WITH CAITLYNE IN HER ROOM WITH ONE OF OUR PRODUCERS. AND FOR ME AS A JOURNALIST, IT WAS SUDDENLY A DIFFICULT MOMENT WITH CAITLYNE.

TAPE 

CAITLYNE: I DON’T KNOW!

MARIA: OK.

CAITLYNE: OK.

PRODUCER: ARE YOU TIRED, YOU?

MARIA: NO, AND SHE’S GIVING ME A VERY HARD TIME WITH THIS INTERVIEW. 

CAITLYNE: THAT’S MY PERSONALITY.

MARIA: CAITLYNE HAD SHUT DOWN. SHE DIDN’T WANT TO TALK TO ME, WOULDN’T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 

AND I COULD FEEL HER DESIRE TO PUSH ME OUT OF HER ROOM. AND I KNEW THIS WASN’T JUST A 10-YEAR-OLD ACTING OUT, THERE WAS SOMETHING MUCH DEEPER HAPPENING HERE, AND I COULD SEE IT. IT WAS HER TRAUMA.

[TENSE MUSIC]

A YEAR AGO, ON MAY 24TH, CAITLYNE WAS INSIDE HER FOURTH-GRADE CLASSROOM AT ROBB ELEMENTARY, WHEN AN 18-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN ENTERED THE BUILDING. HE KILLED 19 CHILDREN AND TWO TEACHERS, AND HE WOUNDED 17 OTHERS WITH AN AR-15, A TYPE OF SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE THAT’S DESIGNED TO KILL A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT’S A WEAPON OF WAR. BUT CAITLYNE WASN’T AT WAR. SHE WAS IN THE FOURTH-GRADE CLASSROOM ACROSS THE HALL FROM THE GUNMAN.

MANY OF HER FRIENDS WERE KILLED. ONE OF THEM WAS JACKIE CAZAREZ, CAITLYNE’S VERY BEST FRIEND.

IT’S STILL HARD FOR CAITLYNE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT ROBB ELEMENTARY. THAT’S WHY WE’RE OUTSIDE AND PAINTING. OUT IN THE OPEN AND NOT CONFINED IN HER SMALL BEDROOM.

[MUSIC ENDS]

CAITLYNE: I AM SCARED. WHAT IF I GET MY HANDS DIRTY. 

MARIA: WE’LL JUST WASH OUR HANDS. 

CAITLYNE: OKAY. I’VE NEVER USED MY HANDS TO PAINT. 

MARIA: PUES, THERE’S ALWAYS A FIRST TIME. 

CAITLYNE: READY? 

(MARIA AND CAITLYNE LAUGH)

MARIA: AND NOW SHE’S LOOKING MORE RELAXED AND EVEN HAPPY.

TAPE

MARIA: SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BEST BFF? 

CAITLYNE: SHE WAS FUNNY. HER LAUGH WAS FUNNY. SHE SNORTED.

MARIA: CAITLYNE AND JACKIE’S FRIENDSHIP GOES BACK TO PRE-K. WHILE SHE’S PAINTING, CAITLYNE NOW LIGHTS UP TALKING ABOUT HER FRIEND AND ABOUT HOW THEY MET AT THE PLAYGROUND.

TAPE M

CAITLYNE: SHE WAS ON A SWING, AND HER FRIENDS WEREN’T THERE THAT DAY. AND SHE WAS PLAYING BY HERSELF, SO I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO PLAY WITH ME, AND SHE SAID, “YES,” AND THEN WE KEPT TALKING.

MARIA: EVER SINCE THAT MOMENT, THEY DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER: IN-CLASS TIKTOKS, AFTERSCHOOL FACETIMES, WEEKEND HANGOUTS AND SUMMER THEATER SHOWS. 

[PAUSE]

[MUSIC]

MARIA: SINCE JACKIE’S DEATH, CAITLYNE HASN’T BEEN THE SAME. HER PARENTS, GLADYS AND NEF, HAVE SEEN THOSE CHANGES FIRST-HAND. HERE’S HER MOM, GLADYS”

TAPE

GLADYS: “SINCE MAY 24 EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR LIVES HAS CHANGED. SHE WENT FROM BEING PRETTY INDEPENDENT TO ONE THAT NOW HAS TO SHARE THE BED WITH ME BECAUSE SHE’S SO AFRAID OF THE DARKNESS.”

MARIA: GLADYS SAYS CAITLYNE’S ALWAYS CHECKS TO SEE IF THE DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE LOCKED.

TAPE

GLADYS: “AS SOON AS OUR DAY STARTS COMING TO AN END SHE STARTS GETTING ANXIOUS AND QUESTIONING ME, MOM YOU ARE GOING TO SLEEP WITH ME, RIGHT? SO AND THEN THERE ARE NIGHTMARES AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK. I MEAN, YOU FEEL HER WHOLE BODY SHAKE. IT TAKES A WHILE TO CALM HER DOWN AND I’LL FOLLOW HER TO THE BED AND  JUST STAY THERE.” 

MARIA: THIS HAS BECOME THEIR NEW NORMAL. THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN SCARRED BY LOSS AND GRIEF AND TRAUMA. GLADYS AND NEF HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO GET MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR CAITLYNE, SOMETHING TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT PROMISED TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 

MANY FAMILIES ALSO WANT TO MAKE CHANGES TO GUN LAWS IN TEXAS. THEY DON’T WANT ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 TO BE ALLOWED TO BUY, SELL, OR RENT ANY FIREARM — INCLUDING THE ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPON USED BY THE SHOOTER AT ROBB ELEMENTARY.

THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT EASY.

[MUSIC] 

FROM FUTURO MEDIA AND PRX, IT’S LATINO USA, I’M MARIA HINOJOSA. TODAY, A YEAR AFTER THE MASSACRE IN UVALDE, TEXAS, WE BRING YOU A STORY IN COLLABORATION WITH FUTURO INVESTIGATES. SOME OF THE REPORTING FOR THIS EPISODE IS BASED ON THE PBS FRONTLINE DOCUMENTARY FILM “AFTER UVALDE: GUNS, GRIEF & TEXAS POLITICS.” FOR MONTHS NOW, SINCE THE MASSACRE, OUR TEAM HAS  BEEN FOLLOWING A FAMILY IN THEIR GRIEVING, THEIR HEALING AND THEIR CALLS FOR CHANGE.

MARIA’S INTRO: 

AS SOON AS I HEARD ABOUT THE MASSACRE IN UVALDE, WHICH IS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE US-MEXICO BORDER, I BECAME OBSESSED WITH THIS STORY. I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS. AND SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS AND SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS IN THE AFTERMATH.

NEWS CLIP: “SEVERAL MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MASSACRE THAT LEFT 19 CHILDREN AND TWO TEACHERS DEAD.

NEWS CLIP: THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ISSUED TO DATE ON UVALDE’S MASS TRAGEDY OFFERS A SCATHING CRITIQUE OF ALL AGENCIES LINKED TO THE RESPONSE. IN THE REPORT’S WORDS, EGREGIOUSLY POOR DECISION MAKING.

NEWS CLIP: 1:53 GLORIA CAZARES: IT’S DISGUSTING. IT MAKES ME NAUSEATED. THEY KNEW OUR KIDS WERE RIGHT BEHIND THAT HALLWAY. IN THAT ROOM, THEY WERE BLEEDING TO DEATH.

[MUSIC]

MARIA: THESE INCONSISTENCIES HAVE LEFT FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, ANGRY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS. MANY OF THEM ARE CALLING FOR GUN REFORM AND A LASTING, AND EFFECTIVE, MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE LEARN HOW SURVIVORS OF THE UVALDE MASSACRE ARE NAVIGATING THEIR TRAUMA IN A STATE WHERE GUNS ARE INGRAINED INTO THE CULTURE. AND WHERE PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY SHORTCHANGED.

SEGMENT A

[AMBI SOUND]

CAITLYNE: I HAVE TO MAKE SNACK BAGS FOR SOFTBALL TEAM TOMORROW…12.

MARIA: IT’S A SCHOOL NIGHT, BUT YOU WOULDN’T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT FROM ALL THE ACTIVITY THAT’S GOING ON HERE AT THE GONZALEZ HOUSE. GLADYS GONZALEZ IS BUSY MAKING PANCAKES. YES, PANCAKES. 

CAITLYNE’S SHY 7-YEAR-OLD SISTER CAMILA IS SITTING THERE QUIETLY WITH PINK BARRETTES IN HER HAIR, WAITING TO BE SERVED.

I VISITED CAITLYNE FIRST IN JANUARY, BACK WHEN WE WERE PAINTING TOGETHER AND PLAYING WITH THE ZIPLINE OUTSIDE. BUT NOW, I’M BACK TODAY AND IT’S A SPECIAL EVENING. 

TAPE 

MARIA: “VAMOS A COMER.”

CAITLYNE: I’M NOT HUNGRY

MARIA: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT HUNGRY?

GLADYS: “LOOK AT ALL THESE PANCAKES”

MARIA: “OH, YOUR MOTHER DOES NOT PLAY.” 

MARIA: GLADYS HAS CHOSEN TO MAKE HER VERY FAMOUS PANCAKES FOR CAITLYNE, CAMILA, MYSELF AND MY TEAM.

TAPE 

MARIA: “OKAY I’M GOING TO HAVE A PANCAKE BECAUSE I CAN’T TAKE IT ANY LONGER, BUT I’M GOING TO TAKE ONE FROM THE MIDDLE.”

CAITLYNE: “WHERE ARE YOUR BLUEBERRIES?

MARIA: I DON’T KNOW.

CAITLYNE: I’M GOING TO EAT ZERO.

MARIA: WHAT…

MARIA: CAITLYNE IS SO VOCAL. I CAN TELL SHE LIKES TO BE THE BOSS HERE AT HER HOUSE. AND, FRANKLY, SHE’S LOOKING REALLY RELAXED, AND SHE’S BEING SUPER OPEN WITH ME.

MARIA: “PANCAKES FOR DINNER. DO YOU KNOW THE LAST TIME I HAD PANCAKES FOR DINNER? PROBABLY LIKE MAYBE 30 YEARS AGO.”

CAITLYNE: “OH MY GOD!”

MARIA: “THAT’S WHY I WAS SO EXCITED.

MARIA: IN FACT I’M A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK BY HOW TALKATIVE SHE IS TODAY, BECAUSE REMEMBER, THE FIRST TIME WE MET, SHE SHUT DOWN IN HER BEDROOM AND WOULDN’T SPEAK WITH ME.

[MUSIC]

MARIA: BUT I HAD A QUESTION: HOW DID THE GONZALEZ FAMILY END UP IN UVALDE? SO GLADYS AND NEF SAT ME DOWN IN THEIR LIVING ROOM, AND WE DECIDED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

THEY TELL ME THAT THEY MOVED HERE AROUND 2015, SOON AFTER CAITLYNE WAS BORN.

TAPE

GLADYS: WE JUST WERE DRIVING ONE DAY. AND SO WE JUST SAID, ‘YOU KNOW WHAT? UVALDE SEEMS LIKE A NICE TOWN.’ WE JUST PACKED UP OUR STUFF AND MOVED TO UVALDE.

MARIA: BOTH GLADYS AND NEF GROW UP IN SMALL TOWNS ALONG THE BORDER. 

TAPE

NEF: “SO WHEN WE LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO, IT WAS A FAST PACE OF LIFE FOR US. WE HAD TO ADJUST TO THAT. WE JUST FELT THAT UVALDE WAS— WE JUST LIKED IT, AND IT WAS A SLOWER PACE OF LIFE.

MARIA: AND IT WAS A PLACE WHERE CAITLYNE STARTED TO BLOSSOM. SHE WAS A GREAT STUDENT. 

TAPE

GLADYS: I’LL TELL HER, ‘CAITLYNE, DID YOU FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK?’

 ‘YES, MOM, OF COURSE’. 

[LAUGHS] 

SO SHE’S ALWAYS ON TOP OF THINGS. ALWAYS.

MARIA: CAITLYNE’S PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS SEEN SO MUCH POTENTIAL IN HER. BEFORE THE MASSACRE, CAITLYNE WOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO WHEN SHE GOT OLDER. 

GLADYS: “SHE HAD TALKED ABOUT BEING A TEACHER, AND THEN SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO MOVE TO L.A. AND JOIN LIKE A DANCE. SHE LOVES DANCING AND THEN SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT BEING A DOCTOR.

MARIA: BUT THOSE DREAMS THAT CAITLYNE HAD CHANGED A YEAR AGO – RIGHT AFTER THE MASS SHOOTING.

[TENSE MUSIC]

THAT DAY, MAY 24, HAD STARTED OUT IN FACT AS A VERY HAPPY AND VERY SPECIAL DAY. IN THE MORNING, THERE WAS AN AWARD CEREMONY AT CAITLYNE’S SCHOOL.

TAPE

GLADYS: AND SO I DROPPED HER OFF AND SHE SAID, ‘MOMMY, YOU BETTER SHOW UP EARLY AND DON’T BE LATE. AND MAYBE I SHOULD, WE SHOULD, AFTER [THE] AWARD CEREMONY, YOU CAN JUST SIGN ME OUT AND WE CAN GO TO STARBUCKS,’

–BECAUSE SHE LOVES STARBUCKS. 

AND I SAID, ‘WE’LL SEE, CAITLYNE.’

MARIA: SHE RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS.

AWARD CEREMONY TAPE

ROBB ELEMENTARY STAFF: FOR LIBRARY, [STUDENT] AND CAITLYNE GONZALES.  

MARIA: GLADYS REMEMBERS BEING SO PROUD OF HER DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS. 

TAPE

GLADYS: I REMEMBER SEEING JACKIE, AND THEY WERE HUGGING, AND THEY EVEN TOOK PICTURES. AND SHE CAME UP TO ME AND TOLD ME, ‘HEY, MISS GONZALEZ!’

AND SHE SAID, ‘I REALLY LOVE YOUR PANCAKES, AND I MISS THEM.’

AND I SAID, ‘YOU KNOW WHAT? ON SATURDAY I’LL MAKE YOU SOME, AND I’LL TELL CAITLYNE TO CALL YOU UP SO YOU CAN COME.’

SHE SAID, ‘REALLY?’

I SAID, ‘YEAH,’ AND THAT WAS THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY TOOK THEIR LAST PICTURE AND WE WENT OFF OUR WAYS.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]

MARIA: NOT EVEN AN HOUR LATER, GLADYS AND NEF RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE ON THEIR CELL PHONES:

AUDIO CALL TAPE

ROBB ELEMENTARY STAFF: ROBB ELEMENTARY PARENTS, THIS PHONE CALL IS FOR YOU. PLEASE KNOW AT THIS TIME, ROBB ELEMENTARY IS UNDER A LOCKDOWN STATUS DUE TO A GUN— DUE TO GUNSHOTS IN THE AREA. THE STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE SAFE IN THE BUILDING.THE BUILDING IS SECURE IN A LOCKDOWN STATUS.

MARIA: WHEN THAT HAPPENED, NEF, A LICENSED PLUMBER, WAS WORKING AT A NEARBY SCHOOL. TURNS OUT THAT ALL THE SCHOOLS IN UVALDE WENT ON LOCKDOWN. BOTH HE AND GLADYS ALSO RECEIVED TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE SCHOOL SAYING THE SAME THING: THE KIDS WERE SAFE. 

BUT NEF COULD NOT LEAVE WORK TO GO TO ROBB ELEMENTARY AND CONFIRM THAT CAITLYNE WAS OKAY.

NEF: I GET THIS TEXT AND I BELIEVE IT, RIGHT? I BELIEVE THIS. 

MARIA: JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER, GLADYS GOT CONTRADICTING INFORMATION. 

TAPE

GLADYS: AND THEN I HAVE A FRIEND WHO CALLS ME AND TELLS ME YOU NEED TO GET TO ROBB. THERE’S AN ACTIVE SHOOTER. AND I JUST FELT LIKE SOMEONE POURED COLD WATER ON ME. AND SO I JUST LEFT, AND I WENT SPEEDING TO ROBB.

MARIA: NEF WAS STILL ON LOCKDOWN WHEN GLADYS ARRIVED AT THE SCHOOL.

THERE WERE CARS EVERYWHERE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BARRICADING ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL. 

[AMBI SOUND] 

MARIA: SHE COULDN’T GET TO CAITLYNE.

TAPE

GLADYS: THEY WOULDN’T LET US PASS. SO THERE’S PEOPLE LIKE CRYING AND A LOT OF CHAOS. AND SO I WAS WITH ANOTHER FRIEND. WE WERE BOTH CRYING AND JUST HOPING FOR THE BEST.

MARIA: BOTH GLADYS AND NEF HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S RESPONSE DURING AND SINCE THE SHOOTING. 

TAPE 

NEF: I LIVE HERE. I WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT’S JUST THAT, I DON’T SEE THEM LIKE I SEE THEM BEFORE.

MARIA: YOU DON’T FEEL PROTECTED?

NEF: I DON’T FEEL PROTECTED AT ALL. 

MARIA: WHEN NEF SPEAKS I HEAR THE SADNESS IN HIS VOICE, NOW KNOWING THAT THE CHILDREN WERE NOT, IN FACT, SAFE.

TAPE 

NEF: AND THAT’S WHAT’S SO DISAPPOINTING: PRETTY MUCH THAT’S WHEN THE LIES START AND ALL THE FAILURES.

MARIA: SEVERAL 911 CALLS CAME FROM STUDENTS AND STAFF INSIDE THE SCHOOL THAT AFTERNOON. THEY SHOWED WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON. THE TEXAS TRIBUNE OBTAINED A COPY OF THOSE 911 CALLS. 

TAPE: 9-1-1 CALL 

STUDENT: “UVALDE COUNTY 911…THERE’S A SCHOOL SHOOTING…PLEASE HURRY. THERE’S A LOT OF DEAD BODIES. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP.

MARIA: OFFICERS ARRIVED TO THE SCHOOL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. AND INITIALLY APPROACHED THE CLASSROOM CAUTIOUSLY BUT WHEN THE SHOOTER FIRED, THEY REALIZED THE GUNMAN HAD AN AR. AND THEN THEY RETREATED. THEY DIDN’T BREACH THE CLASSROOM FOR 77 MINUTES.

TENSE MUSIC

WE ACCESSED THE FOOTAGE OF THE RESPONDERS DURING THOSE 77 MINUTES OF WAITING, FIRST OBTAINED BY THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, AS PART OF THE REPORTING FOR THE PBS FRONTLINE DOCUMENTARY FILM “AFTER UVALDE: GUNS, GRIEF & TEXAS POLITICS.”

WE’RE GOING TO HEAR THE MOMENT WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT LEARNS ABOUT THE AR-15, AND AT THAT MOMENT WE SEE THEM STOP. BECAUSE THE AR-15 IS, AGAIN, A WEAPON OF WAR, SO THE BULLETS ARE CAPABLE OF CUTTING THROUGH POLICE OFFICERS’ STANDARD BULLETPROOF VESTS. 

BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE: 

OFFICER: AR-15, HOLD DOWN, WE HAVE AN AR.

OFFICER: MALE SUBJECT WITH AN AR.

OFFICER BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE: …WHAT IS THE SAFEST WAY TO DO

THIS? I’M NOT TRYING TO GET CLAPPED OUT.

OFFICER 2: ME NEITHER.

MARIA: GLADYS IS GRATEFUL THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS EVENTUALLY RESCUED BY OFFICERS. BUT SHE HAS ALSO BEEN ACTIVELY DEMANDING MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE OFFICERS WHO WAITED 77 MINUTES TO BREACH THE CLASSROOM WHERE THE SHOOTER WAS.

TAPE

GLADYS: BUT TO THOSE THAT JUST STOOD BACK. DID NOTHING. I HAVE LOST ALL RESPECT. I CAN’T FATHOM THE THOUGHT OF JUST STANDING BY DO NOTHING. 

[PAUSE]

[TICKING MUSIC]

MARIA: WHEN WE COME BACK: HOW CAITLYNE IS CALLING OUT THOSE LEADERS IN HER OWN WAY.

AND LATER, WE MEET THE DESCENDANTS OF A FAMILY WHO SURVIVED A MASSACRE IN TEXAS MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO. WE LEARN ABOUT THEIR CONNECTION TO UVALDE AND THEIR LONG JOURNEY TOWARDS HEALING.

STAY WITH US, NO TE VAYAS.

SEGMENT B 

LATINO USA LISTENER: MY NAME IS RICARDO CALLING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS WHEN I FIRST LISTENED TO LATINO USA. IT WAS 2015, AND I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH MY PEACE CORPS SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES. AND LISTENING TO LATINO USA REALLY MADE ME FEEL SEEN AND CONNECTED TO MY LATINIDAD DURING A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS FEELING VERY DISCONNECTED. AND FROM THAT DAY, I WAS HOOKED.

[SEGMENT BEGINS]

MARIA: BEFORE THE BREAK WE HEARD HOW CAITLYNE IS DOING SINCE THE MASSACRE. SHE HAS GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS. AND HER PARENTS ARE NAVIGATING HOW TO BEST HEAL FROM THIS MASS SHOOTING.

PART OF THAT HEALING INCLUDES LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT THERAPY TREATMENT, BUT IT’S BEEN HARDER THAN THEY ANTICIPATED. 

ALRIGHT, LET’S GET BACK TO THE STORY.

CAITLYNE STARTED SPEAKING OUT SOON AFTER SURVIVING THE MASSACRE, WITH A FOCUS ON GUN REFORM.

AMBI FROM THE RALLY OF JULY 2022

CAITLYNE: “A SCHOOL IS A PLACE WHERE A TEACHER AND SO SHOULD FEEL SAFE.”

MARIA: CAITLYNE’S FIRST RALLY WAS IN JULY OF 2022, WHEN SHE AND PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY MARCHED FROM ROBB ELEMENTARY TO THE TOWN SQUARE.

TAPE 

GLADYS: “IT WENT FROM JUST ONE INVITATION FROM JACKLYN’S MOM: HEY, CAITLYNE, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN SPEAK AT THE RALLY?

AND SO SHE SAID, YEAH, SURE.”

SHORTLY AFTER, CAITLYNE TOOK ON UVALDE POLICE CHIEF PETE ARREDONDO AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. 

[AMBI SOUND]

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: LAST, WE HAVE MISS CAITLYNE GONZALES.

[CAITLYNE BEGINS SPEAKING]

ARREDONDO IS ONE OF THE FEW OFFICERS WHO FACED CONSEQUENCES AFTER THE DELAYED RESPONSE AT ROBB ELEMENTARY. HE’S THE MAN MANY BELIEVED WAS IN CHARGE THAT DAY AT THE SCHOOL, THOUGH ARREDONDO SAID HE NEVER CONSIDERED HIMSELF THE INCIDENT COMMANDER.

TAPE 

CAITLYNE: “I HAVE MESSAGES FOR PETE ARREDONDO AND ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS THERE THAT DAY: TURN IN YOUR BADGE AND STEP DOWN, YOU DON’T DESERVE TO WEAR ONE.”

AT THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, ARREDONDO WAS FIRED. GLADYS AND NEF ARE IN AWE OF THEIR DAUGHTER’S FEARLESSNESS.

TAPE

GLADYS: I DIDN’T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO SAY THAT. WE WERE ALL TAKEN BY SURPRISE. THE STRENGTH. (VOICE STARTS TO CRACK)

MARIA: WHAT’S GOING ON FOR YOU? TELL ME WHAT YOU’RE FEELING.

GLADYS: JUST, YOU KNOW, THATI ‘M JUST PROUD OF HER. I’M JUST PROUD OF HER THAT DESPITE HER SADNESS SHE’S SHOWN RESILIENCY. AND SHE’S STILL TRYING TO SHINE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.

MARIA: SINCE THAT DAY AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, CAITLYNE HAS SPOKEN AT ABOUT 10 RALLIES.

NEF AND GLADYS SAY THEY HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED SOME PUSH BACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA. PEOPLE HAVE ACCUSED THEM OF COACHING THEIR DAUGHTER. 

TAPE 

NEF: AND THAT’S JUST SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH. IT’S VERY DISRESPECTFUL. WITH HER SPEECHES, SHE DOES THEM ALL. WE TRY TO PROOFREAD THEM. SHE WON’T LET US.IT’S VERY DISRESPECTFUL.

GLADYS: IT IS.

NEF: AND I TAKE IT SO OFFENSIVE BECAUSE I’M THINKING, HERE’S CAITLYN, SHE BELIEVES IN SOMETHING AND SHE’S WILLING TO GO OUT THERE AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND TRY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE ABOUT THE WAY SHE FEELS. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE GUTS TO DO THAT? TO GET UP ON A PODIUM AND TALK AND AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE?

[PAUSE]

[SAD MUSIC]

MARIA: I CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER IF CAITLYNE’S ADVOCACY IS ALSO ROOTED IN A VERY PARTICULAR RESPONSE TO HER TRAUMA.

TAPE 

GLADYS: SHE’S A DIFFERENT PERSON THAN THE DAY THAT I DROPPED HER OFF ON MAY 24TH. AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS A FAMILY TOGETHER. BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE HER. BECAUSE OTHER FAMILIES AREN’T AS FORTUNATE TO BE IN THIS SITUATION.

MARIA: SOON AFTER THE MASS SHOOTING, TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF THE UVALDE TOGETHER RESILIENCY CENTER, A TEMPORARY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF UVALDE. LIKE MANY REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE, ABBOTT BLAMED THE MASSACRE ON MENTAL HEALTH.

ARCHIVAL TAPE

TEXAS GOV. GREG ABBOTT: “I ASKED THE SHERIFF, AND OTHERS, AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THE SHERIFF, AS WELL AS FROM THE MAYOR OF UVALDE. THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE? THEY SAID, “WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS IN THIS COMMUNITY””

MARIA: WITH JUST ONE PSYCHIATRIST IN THE TOWN AND NO DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL OR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER, UVALDE IS A MENTAL HEALTH DESERT, LIKE MANY SMALL TOWNS IN THE U.S.

TAPE 

MARIA: “WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT CAITLYN NEEDED THERAPY, THAT IT WAS NOT JUST GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO HUG HER?” AND WHAT YOU DECIDED TO DO THEN?

GLADYS: “I’D SAY THAT SAME NIGHT, I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO NEED HELP. AND BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN MENTAL HEALTH. I USED TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH CASEWORKER— CHILDREN’S CASEWORKER. I KNEW SHE WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT GOING TO NEED HELP.

MARIA: IN UVALDE, ONE IN FOUR RESIDENTS LIVE IN POVERTY, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, FUTURO INVESTIGATES HAVE SPOKEN IN UVALDE WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE ABOUT THE TRAGEDY, THE AFTERMATH, AND THEIR GRIEVING. THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT’S DIFFICULT TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE THERAPIST IN TOWN.

THE RESILIENCY CENTER WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE FREE ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES LIKE CRISIS COUNSELING AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY. 

SOON AFTER THAT, GLADYS AND HER FAMILY REALIZED THE CENTER WASN’T EQUIPPED TO MEET THE MENTAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF CAITLYNE AND HER YOUNGER SISTER, WHO’S ALSO BEEN SCARRED BY THE MASSACRE.

[AMBI OF DRIVING CAR]

MARIA: ONE MORNING I FIND MYSELF I DRIVING AROUND THE EDGE OF TOWN. I WANTED TO SEE THE UVALDE TOGETHER RESILIENCY CENTER FOR MYSELF. AND, WELL, IT’S PRETTY DIFFICULT TO FIND.

TAPE 

MARIA: WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE RESILIENCY CENTER IS PART OF THE FAIRGROUNDS, SO I’M GOING TO TURN INTO THE FAIRGROUNDS NOW.

MARIA: WHEN I TURN, I DON’T SEE ANY SIGNS.

TAPE 

MARIA: I’M A LITTLE LOST. OKAY, I’M GOING TO TURN AROUND. MAYBE THERE’S A SIGN. 

MARIA: IN THE DISTANCE I SEE TWO FLAGS THAT SAY UVALDE STRONG AND RESILIENCY CENTER. BUT THERE ARE NO SIGNS TELLING ME HOW TO GET THERE.

FINALLY, I SEE A SMALL WHITE TENT AND A SIGN ON A FLIMSY DOOR THAT READS NO MEDIA ALLOWED.

NEAR THAT TENT, THERE ARE ALSO GRAY PORTABLE OFFICES. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY’VE BEEN SLICED OUT OF A SHIPPING CONTAINER. AND THIS IS WHERE THE ACTUAL THERAPY IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.

TAPE

MARIA: SO I’M NOT SEEING ANY COUNSELORS. I’M NOT SEEING ANY SOCIAL WORKERS. BUT WHAT I DO SEE ARE TWO POLICE CARS.

MARIA: EACH CONTAINER HAS A SMALL, RECTANGULAR WINDOW.

TAPE 

MARIA: AT LEAST WHAT I’M FEELING RIGHT NOW, IS THAT IT’S NOT A KIND OF WARM AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. IT DOESN’T FEEL THAT WAY.

SOUND OF DRIVING AND FADE DOWN

[TICKING MUSIC]

MARIA: IN JUNE OF 2022, LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE MASSACRE, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED MORE THAN 100 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS FOR “SCHOOL SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH.” 

ABOUT TWO OF EVERY 10 DOLLARS WENT TO MENTAL HEALTH EXPENSES. THE REST WAS ALLOCATED FOR BUYING SHIELDS, PANIC ALERTS AND NEW TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS. RIGHT NOW THE STATE HAS SET ASIDE FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO FUND THE RESILIENCY CENTER. ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE SAID IT’S A PLACE WHERE THERE IS CRISIS COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID AND MORE. BUT FOR GLADYS, IT’S NOT WORKING.

TAPE

MARIA: HOW MUCH MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS IS THERE FOR THE PEOPLE OF UVALDE?”

GLADYS: IT’S VERY LIMITED, AND NOW SINCE MAY 24TH, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND ALL THESE SENATORS SAYING, WE’RE GOING TO BRING ALL THIS MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT’S ALL THEY TALK ABOUT.

MARIA: IS IT HERE?

GLADYS: I’D SAY IT’S DEFINITELY LIMITED.

MARIA: AFTER THE RESILIENCY CENTER FAILED TO WORK FOR GLADYS, SHE TRIED ANOTHER FREE THERAPY. BUT HERE, AT THIS CLINIC, THE SESSIONS HAPPENED ONLY EVERY OTHER WEEK, AND CAITLYNE HAD TO SHARE HER HOUR OF THERAPY WITH HER MOM AND LITTLE SISTER, WHICH MEANT THEY HAVE ROUGHLY 15 MINUTES OF THERAPY EACH.

[PAUSE]

GLADYS THOUGHT THIS FREE THERAPY FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IS NOT COUNSELING.

TAPE

GLADYS: THAT’S A SLAP TO THE FACE TO THESE KIDS. BECAUSE IT’S JUST HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS ENORMOUS TRAUMA? AND JUST BE DEALT WITH 15 MINUTES OF THERAPY.

MARIA: SHE WANTS MORE FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

TAPE

GLADYS: “IT SHOULDN’T FALL ON US TO GO OUT AND ASK FOR CHANGE, IT SHOULD COME FROM THEM. THEY WERE PUT IN A POSITION TO DEMAND CHANGE, THEN ACT LIKE IT.

MARIA: AFTER THESE EXPERIENCES, GLADYS SAYS CAITLYNE’S SYMPTOMS WORSENED. FINALLY, SHE FOUND A GRIEF CAMP FOR CAITLYNE. THERE, SHE LEARNED ABOUT A PROMISING TREATMENT THERAPY –  IT’S KNOWN AS EMDR, WHICH STANDS FOR EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING. IT’S A KIND OF PSYCHOTHERAPY MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE PROCESS THE MEMORIES THAT TRIGGERED THEIR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, OR PTSD, AND IT HELPS THEM WORK THROUGH THE TRAUMA.

THE THERAPY IS EXPENSIVE AND THE GONZALEZ FAMILY SPENT SEVEN MONTHS SEARCHING FOR A THERAPIST WHO WOULD TAKE THEIR INSURANCE. DURING THOSE MONTHS, THEY PAID OUT OF POCKET, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER HELP FROM THE STATE.

NOW, THE FAMILY TRAVELS ONCE A WEEK TO SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS AT LEAST THREE HOURS ROUNDTRIP, BECAUSE EMDR THERAPY FOR CHILDREN ISN’T OFFERED IN UVALDE.

TAPE

GLADYS: NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO BE TRAVELING OUTSIDE THEIR LOCAL VICINITIES FOR THERAPEUTIC ACCESS. IT’S JUST ABSURD TO ME.

MARIA: WHILE RECENTLY REPORTING IN TEXAS, I SAT DOWN WITH THE CEO OF THE RESILIENCY CENTER. HER NAME IS MARY BETH FISK. I ASKED HER ABOUT WHAT WE HAD HEARD FROM PEOPLE LIKE GLADYS AND OTHER FOLKS IN UVALDE. AND MARY BETH SAYS THAT EMDR IS IN FACT AVAILABLE AT THE RESILIENCY CENTER, BUT IT’S ONLY OFFERED FOR ADULTS.

TAPE 

MARIA: WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO ME TELLING YOU THAT WE KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE FAMILY THAT IS TRAVELING TO SAN ANTONIO WITH THEIR CHILD ON A WEEKLY, BI-WEEKLY BASIS IN ORDER TO GET THE THERAPY THAT YOU SAY IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM IN UVALDE.

MARY BETH: IF THERE’S A CHILD THAT’S IN NEED OF EMDR THERAPY, GIVEN THAT IT’S STILL IN THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGES, WE WOULD WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THAT AND TO SEE IF THAT’S THE BEST APPLICATION FOR THAT CHILD SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY OF CARE.

MARIA: I ALSO ASK HER ABOUT THE OVERALL APPEARANCE OF THE LOCATION.

TAPE

MARIA: HOW DO YOU SEE HAVING A TENT AND THESE KIND OF SHIPPING CONTAINER SEGMENTS?

MARY BETH: WE’VE CERTAINLY BEEN VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT MOVING INTO THE BRICK AND MORTAR STRUCTURE. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ON MAY 1ST, WE WILL BE MOVING INTO THE WHAT WILL BE NEWLY RENOVATED SPACE.”

MARIA: YEAH. I DON’T KNOW IF SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN THERAPY, I THE LAST PLACE I WOULD WANT TO BE IN THERAPY IS IN A BOX OF A SHIPPING CONTAINER KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH SOME PLASTIC CHAIRS.

MARY BETH: AND THE FUNDING THAT WE’VE BEEN PROVIDED, IT WAS STRICTLY THE FUNDING FOR THE COUNSELORS THEMSELVES. 

MARIA: BUT THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS A $33 BILLION SURPLUS. I MEAN, FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT’S JUST LIKE, SHOULDN’T THERE BE MORE?”

MARY BETH: WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO. WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE PRIORITIZATION TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY OF UVALDE.

MARIA: THE NEW LOCATION OPENED THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY.

[MUSIC]

THIS LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF TRAUMA ARE SOMETHING THAT ANOTHER FAMILY IN UVALDE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. 

SISTERS EMMA ALBARADO AND ELSIE ROUTH BOTH WERE BORN AND RAISED IN UVALDE.

TAPE

MARIA: HI!

ELSIE: HELLO!

MARIA: DO YOU HAVE CHICKENS TOO?

THE DAY I MEET THEM, 41 YEAR- OLD ELSIE, IS WEARING A LONG FLORAL DRESS, AND SHE’S JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO HER FIRST CHILD. 

TAPE 

MARIA: OKAY, DID YOU JUST HAVE THIS BABY?

ELSIE: I’M 41 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS MY FIVE-MONTH OLD. , SHE JUST TURNED FIVE MONTHS TODAY.

MARIA: AND IS THIS YOUR FIRST?

ELSIE: MY FIRST.

MARIA: CONGRATULATIONS! YES!

MARIA: EMMA IS A DECADE OLDER THAN ELSIE. THEY’RE OPPOSITES. EMMA IS A LITTLE MORE RESERVED, TODAY, SHE’S WEARING A BUTTONED-DOWN BEIGE BLOUSE AND SLACKS. 

ELSIE IS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM, AND EMMA IS A DYSLEXIA TEACHER FOR THE UVALDE SCHOOL DISTRICT. EMMA REGULARLY WORKED AT ROBB ELEMENTARY, BUT SHE WAS OFF CAMPUS THE DAY OF THE SHOOTING. SHE LOST SEVERAL STUDENTS SHE KNEW. EMMA HAS BEEN FINDING IT HARD TO MOVE ON, AND, LIKE CAITLYNE’S FAMILY, SHE’S ACTIVELY SEEKING HELP.

TAPE 

EMMA: I REACHED OUT TO A COUNSELOR DURING THE SUMMER AND IT WAS MORE OF A PHONE-TYPE OF CONFERENCE COUNSELING. AND SO I KIND OF DROPPED THAT, AND I STARTED GROUP COUNSELING. AND THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE THAT DAY, TEACHERS.

MARIA: THE UVALDE MASSACRE IMPACTED BOTH SISTERS DEEPLY. IT HAS BROUGHT THEM BACK TO THEIR FAMILY’S OWN HISTORY OF TRAUMA AFTER A VIOLENT EVENT.

[MUSIC]

MARIA: EMMA AND ELSIE ARE THE GRANDDAUGHTERS OF JUAN BONILLA FLORES, WHO GREW UP IN PORVENIR, A SMALL TOWN IN WEST TEXAS ON THE U.S. – MEXICO BORDER.

MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, IN 1918, THE TEXAS RANGERS, A LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUP, WENT TO THE TOWN OF PORVENIR. THEY POINTED THEIR GUNS AND MURDERED 15 MEXICAN MEN AND BOYS.

AFTER THE MASSACRE THE RANGERS TRIED TO PAINT THE VICTIMS AS THIEVES, SPIES AND MURDERERS. FOR YEARS, THERE WAS NO SCRUTINY OR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE MURDERS. JUAN, THE GRANDFATHER TO THE TWO SISTERS, WITNESSED THIS MASSACRE WHEN HE WAS JUST TWELVE YEARS OLD.

TAPE

EMMA: “HE DIDN’T SHARE UNTIL IN HIS NINETIES. MY MOM CAME TO UNDERSTAND HE WENT THROUGH A LOT, AND THE TRAUMA TRULY AFFECTED HIM.

MARIA: EMMA SAYS WHEN HER MOM FOUND OUT ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER DAD. SHE MADE IT A MISSION TO LEARN EVEN MORE, ALL THE WAY UNTIL HER DEATH FROM CANCER IN 2021.

TAPE

MARIA: “DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM BECAME A LITTLE OBSESSED WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT EL PORVENIR?”

EMMA: “I BELIEVE SO, YES. SHE HAD BOOKS. SHE WENT TO LIBRARIES, UNIVERSITIES TO GET INFORMATION.”

MARIA: THE CONSTANT SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS CONSUMED THEIR MOM’S LIFE. BUT IT WAS ALSO A NECESSARY WAY FOR HER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HER PAST. FOR EMMA, A LOT OF EMOTIONS HAVE RESURFACED SINCE THE UVALDE SCHOOL SHOOTING.

TAPE

MARIA: CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE PROCESSED THIS IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

EMMA: IT HURTS. IT’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE—THEY’RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN MY MIND, ALWAYS. SO YEAH, I’M PRETTY SURE THAT’S WHAT MY GRANDFATHER EXPERIENCED IN HIS MIND ALL THE TIME.

MARIA: YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WITNESSES A MASSACRE IN TEXAS, AND THE KIDS OF UVALDE—SEVERAL OF THEM WHO YOU KNEW—AND THE SURVIVORS ARE BASICALLY ABOUT THE SAME AGE AND HAVING TO WITNESS AND SURVIVE A MASSACRE IN TEXAS.

EMMA: IT’S TRUE. AND THESE KIDS, WE NEED TO MONITOR THEM. WE NEED TO WATCH AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE GETTING ANY HELP THAT THEY NEED. BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER DIDN’T RECEIVE ANYTHING AND NOTHING TO HELP THEM COPE WITH THIS. AND SO I KNOW THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT.”

[MUSIC]

MARIA: ELSIE, WHO IS NOW RAISING A NEWBORN, ALSO WANTS TO SEE THE COMMUNITY GET THE HELP THEY NEED TO HEAL.

TAPE

ELSIE: THERE’S AN ECHO IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE, AND THEY DON’T WANT REPORTERS HERE ANYMORE.  AND THAT’S NOT RIGHT. YOU’RE SHUTTING THESE FAMILIES DOWN, AND YOU’RE ASKING THEM TO FORGET ABOUT IT AND MOVE ON. AND IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.

MARIA: BOTH EMMA AND ELSIE ALSO KNOW THAT IMPLEMENTING STRICT GUN LAWS MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO COME BY BECAUSE THE GUN CULTURE IN UVALDE — IN THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS, REALLY — IS SO INGRAINED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

TAPE 

ELSIE: IT’S PART OF OUR ECONOMY. IT HELPS PROVIDE JOBS. IT HELPS, YOU KNOW, PUT FOOD ON PEOPLE’S TABLE.

[MUSIC]

MARIA: I LEFT ELSIE AND EMMA WONDERING ABOUT THEIR GRANDFATHER AND HOW TRAUMA CAN BE EASILY PASSED DOWN FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT. 

I ALSO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FAMILIES WHO SURVIVED THE SHOOTING IN UVALDE ARE DOING TO KEEP MOTIVATED WHILE DEMANDING GUN REFORM AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

LIKE 10-YEAR-OLD CAITLYNE GONZALES, WITH ALL OF HER ACTIVISM.

TAPE

LALO CASTILLO: I SAW THE FIRE SHE HAS TO CREATE A CHANGE. AND THE NICE THING ABOUT WHAT I SAW WAS THAT IT REALLY COMES FROM THE HEART.

MARIA: THAT’S LALO CASTILLO. HE’S 76-YEAR-OLD ACTIVIST FROM UVALDE, AND HE’S BEEN AN ACTIVIST FOR ALL OF HIS LIFE. IN FACT, HE WAS PART  OF CHICANO MOVEMENT THAT WAS BORN HERE IN SOUTH TEXAS IN THE 1970S. THAT WAS WHEN MEXICAN-AMERICANS WERE CALLING FOR LABOR AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.  

LALO WAS ALSO A PART OF A HISTORIC SCHOOL WALKOUT IN UVALDE IN 1970. IN FACT, IT HAPPENED AT ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

TAPE 

LALO: WE WERE PUNISHED FOR SPEAKING SPANISH. IT WAS REAL BAD BECAUSE YOU SAW THE TEACHERS WITH THE RULERS, YOU KNOW, ON THE PLAYGROUND, AND IF THEY HEARD YOU, THEY PICK UP YOUR PACKS AND POUCH. IT WAS HORRIBLE. WE GREW UP—A LOT OF US GREW UP—QUESTIONING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER SPANISH WAS BAD. 

MARIA: WHEN ONE OF THE FEW MEXICAN AND BILINGUAL TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT’S CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED, STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TOOK A STAND AND WALKED OUT.

TAPE

LALO: I’LL JUST MAKE IT VERY BRIEF, BUT IT WAS A CHALLENGE. IT WASN’T AS EASY AS JUST, OKAY, LET’S WALK OUT. I THINK OUR WALK OUT WAS THE ONE THAT LASTED THE LONGEST HERE IN TEXAS.

MARIA: THE WHOLE COUNTRY, ACTUALLY. IT’S ONE OF THE LONGEST WALKOUTS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

LALO: YEAH, AND IT LASTED SIX WEEKS. 

MARIA: NOW, LALO IS SHOWING CAITLYNE THE ROPES – THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF WHAT ACTIVISM CAN ACTUALLY BE. HE SAID HE SAW HER POTENTIAL WHEN CAITLYNE FIRST STARTED TO SPEAK OUT LAST YEAR.

TAPE

LALO: “TO HAVE A CHILD LIKE CAITLYNE, WHAT SHE DOES IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE TAUGHT. AND SO I SAW A FUTURE ACTIVIST, A FUTURE LEADER. SO I FOUND MY WAY, AND I ASKED PEOPLE, WHO IS SHE?

MARIA: AND SINCE THEN, HE’S GOTTEN A LOT CLOSER TO CAITLYNE.

TAPE

LALO: OKAY, IT JUST HAPPENED. I’VE NEVER PLANNED TO DO ANY TRAINING, ANY NOTHING. AND THIS LITTLE GIRL IS GOING TO BE EITHER A GOOD POLITICIAN OR WHATEVER, BUT SHE’S— SHE’S WONDERFUL.

[MUSIC]

MARIA: WHEN WE COME BACK WE SEE CAITLYNE IN ACTION SPEAKING TO HER BIGGEST AUDIENCE YET, OUTSIDE THE TEXAS CAPITOL IN AUSTIN. AND WE CHECK-IN TO SEE HOW THERAPY IS HELPING HER.

STAY WITH US, NO TE VAYAS.

SEGMENT C 

LATINO USA LISTENER: HI, MARIA. THIS IS MIROS VARGAS. I LOVE ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS. EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN THERE. YOU HAVE A FABULOUS VOICE, AND IT REALLY INTRIGUES ME TO LISTEN TO YOUR PROGRAM. I REALLY LOVE YOUR SHOW. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 30 YEARS AND AIM FOR ANOTHER 30 OR 40. WHY NOT? 

[SEGMENT BEGINS]

MARIA: WELCOME BACK TO LATINO USA. I’M MARIA HINOJOSA.

WHEN WE LEFT OFF, WE MET LALO CASTILLO, A LONG-TIME ACTIVIST IN UVALDE. HE’S BEEN TAKING CAITLYNE, THE 10-YEAR-OLD SURVIVOR OF THE MASSACRE, UNDER HIS WING, HELPING TO SHAPE HER ACTIVISM.

CAITLYNE IS BALANCING THERAPY, SCHOOL, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND SPEAKING AT RALLIES.

AND, NOW, SHE’S READY TO TAKE ON A BIGGER STAGE.

SOUND OF THE CROWD

IT’S A BUSY DAY AT THE TEXAS CAPITOL BUILDING IN AUSTIN.

MORE SOUND HERE

IT’S REALLY HOT OUTSIDE, BUT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED TO RALLY.

MORE SOUND 

THEY MARCHED FOR HALF AN HOUR TO GET HERE. PEOPLE ARE STANDING AROUND A MAKESHIFT STAGE WHERE THERE’S A PODIUM AND A MICROPHONE.

SOUND OF PEOPLE SPEAKING AND THEN DIP BELOW.

ACTIVISTS ARE SUPPORTING TWO BILLS THAT WOULD INCREASING THE AGE LIMIT TO BUY A SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE, LIKE THE AR-15, IN TEXAS FROM 18 YEARS OLD TO 21. 

BUT THERE’S ONE VOICE IN PARTICULAR THAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING.

TAPE

CHRISTINA DELGADO: “NOW I HAVE THE UTMOST HONOR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ONE OF THE MOST SUPERHUMAN, HUMAN BEINGS ON THE FACE OF THIS PLANET: CAITLYNE GONZALES.

MARIA: CAITLYNE IS SO SMALL THAT THEY SET UP A BOOSTER FOR HER TO STEP UP TO SO SHE CAN REACH THE MICROPHONES. SHE LOOKS FEARLESS THOUGH. SHE IS WEARING A WHITE SHIRT THAT READS “ENOUGH GUN VIOLENCE.” AS ALWAYS, CAITLYNE’S HAIR IS SLICKED BACK INTO A PONYTAIL, THIS TIME WITH WITH A RED BOW. CAITLYNE’S BROWN SKIN GLOWS UNDER THE TEXAS SUN. BEHIND HER ARE THE PHOTOS OF THE 21 LIVES LOST IN UVALDE.

TAPE

CAITLYNE: GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS CAITLYNE GONZALES, I AM A FOURTH-GRADE ROBB ELEMENTARY SURVIVOR FROM UVALDE, TEXAS. ON MAY 24TH EVERYTHING CHANGED. I WAS AT MY AWARD CEREMONY THAT DAY EARLIER BEFORE THE SHOOTING. AS SOON AS WE GOT TO OUR CLASS, WE HEARD THE GUNSHOTS. HE WOBBLED MY… (VOICE CRACKS) HE WOBBLED MY… (VOICE CRACKS AGAIN)

MARIA: “IT’S OKAY CAITLYNE!” 

CROWD: “WE LOVE YOU!”

MARIA: EVEN THOUGH I’M COVERING THIS EVENT AS A JOURNALIST, AS A MOM, I WAS A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT CAITLYNE. THERE WAS SO MUCH EXPECTATION LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT. IT WAS SO HOT. SHE HAD BEEN LEADING THE CHANTING. AND SO IN THIS MOMENT, SUDDENLY, I REACT LIKE A MOM, ENCOURAGING CAITLYNE TO BE STRONG. 

TAPE

MARIA: YOU GOT IT, CAITLYNE! TAKE YOUR TIME! TAKE YOUR TIME! JUST BREATHE MAMA! YOU GOT IT! THEY’RE WITH YOU!

MARIA: THE REST OF THE CROWD ALSO CHEERS HER ON AND TRIES TO COMFORT HER. SHE PAUSES, TAKES A MOMENT AND THEN CONTINUES.

TAPE

CAITLYNE: HE WOBBLED THE DOORKNOB, HE BANGED ON MY DOOR. I REMEMBER HEARING MY BEST FRIEND’S SCREAMS. AND I REMEMBER HUGGING HER THAT MORNING AND I NEVER GOT TO THAT CALL. 

AND I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS,  I SAW THAT ELIANA WAS MISSING. I TEXTED JACKIE: ‘ELIANA IS MISSING, ARE YOU OKAY?’. THE NEXT DAY I GOT THE NEWS FROM MY MOM, THE WORST NEWS ANY CHILD SHOULD GET. I SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I AM BECAUSE MY FRIENDS DON’T HAVE A VOICE NO MORE. GREG ABBOTT’S DONE NOTHING TO PROTECT ME OR MY FRIENDS.

[MUSIC]

MARIA: LALO WAS STANDING BEHIND CAITLYNE DURING HER SPEECH.

TAPE

MARIA: WHEN YOU SEE CAITLYNE AND YOU SEE HOW SHE TALKS WHEN SHE’S ADDRESSING HUGE AUDIENCES—POLITICAL AUDIENCES—WHAT GOES ON FOR YOU?

LALO: I ADMIRE HER SO MUCH AND GOT HIGH HOPES FOR HER. BUT THE BEST THING IS NOT ONLY HER CAPABILITY AND HER DESIRE AND HER COMMITMENT, BUT THE SUPPORT THAT SHE GETS FROM HER PARENTS. HER PARENTS ARE 110 PERCENT BEHIND HER, BUT LET’S UNDERSTAND, THEY DON’T COACH HER, OKAY? HER PARENTS HAVE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS, AND THIS IS A NATURAL BORN LEADER. AND I WILL DO UNTIL THE DAY I DIE ANYTHING THAT I CAN TO PROMOTE HER OR TO HELP HER OR ADVISE HER WITH WHATEVER SHE NEEDS, BECAUSE SHE’S A NATURAL.

MARIA: DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE PASSING THE TORCH AS AN OLDER ACTIVIST FROM UVALDE TO THE NEXT GENERATION?

LALO: YES, YES, VERY MUCHLY.

[MUSIC]

MARIA: SINCE THE START OF THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 200 MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND CAITLYNE CONTINUES SPEAKING OUT.

MOST RECENTLY SHE WALKED OUT OF HER SCHOOL WITH OTHER CLASSMATES PROTESTING ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN NASHVILLE.

TAPE FROM STUDENT PROTEST

CAITLYNE AND CLASSMATES: “REMEMBER, THE 21 ANGELS! REMEMBER, THE 21 ANGELS!”

MARIA: BUT STILL NO GUN REFORM HAS BEEN PASSED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN TEXAS. SOME LAWMAKERS TRIED TO PASS THE TWO BILLS THAT WOULD INCREASE THE AGE OF ASSAULT RIFLE BUYERS. ONE NEVER MADE IT TO HEARINGS. GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID THAT RAISING THE AGE LIMIT WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AS PART OF OUR INVESTIGATION, WE’VE REPEATEDLY REACHED OUT TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT’S OFFICE FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT THOSE REQUESTS HVE BEEN REJECTED.

[AMBI SOUND] 

MARIA: IN LATE APRIL, THE SECOND BILL HAD A COMMITTEE HEARING IN THE TEXAS CAPITOL. JACKIE’S PARENTS, GLORIA AND JAVIER CAZARES, WERE THERE. I MET WITH THEM IN THE HALLWAYS OF THE CAPITOL WHILE THEY WAITED.

TAPE 

MARIA: “WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING IN THAT ROOM CARRYING THE PICTURES OF JACKIE KNOWING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO COMPLETELY OPPOSE YOUR DECISION TO WANT TO RAISE THE AGE?”

GLORIA CAZARES: “IT’S VERY HARD. YOU SEE YOUR CHILDREN, YOU SEE THEIR BEST FRIENDS PICTURES, AND YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE KIDS AND THEIR TEACHERS WEREN’T ENOUGH. THAT’S HOW I FEEL LIKE THEY WEREN’T ENOUGH FOR YOU? THEY WEREN’T ENOUGH FOR YOU TO CARE. 

MARIA: “DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOU’RE ACTUALLY BEGGING THEM?”

GLORIA: “IT DOES, AT TIMES, IT DOES.” 

MARIA: “WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOU?”

GLORIA: A LOT. IT DOES A LOT. WE’VE MET PARENTS FROM DIFFERENT SHOOTINGS, AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. AND WE’VE ONLY BEEN DOING THIS FOR ELEVEN MONTHS AND WE’RE EXHAUSTED. I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE WE CAN TAKE. 

MARIA: THEY SAY THEY’RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP.

TAPE 

JAVIER CAZARES: “I MADE A PROMISE TO MY DAUGHTER AND THAT PROMISE WAS TO HELP MAKE CHANGE. I CAN NEVER BREAK THAT PROMISE. 

MARIA: THE CAZARES FAMILY AND OTHER SURVIVOR’S FAMILIES WAITED MORE THAN 12 HOURS TO BE ABLE TO TESTIFY. TEXAS LAWMAKERS DIDN’T HEAR FROM THEM UNTIL AFTER NINE P.M. 

TAPE 

JAVIER: “MY NAME IS JAVIER CAZARES FROM UVALDE, TEXAS. MY DAUGHTER IS JACKIE CAZARES. I GO BACK TO THE DAY SEEING MY DAUGHTER IN HER LITTLE WHITE DRESS LAYING IN THAT COFFIN. MY BABY GIRL IS FULL OF LIFE AND LOVE. SHE NEVER LEARNED HOW TO RIDE HER BIKE, NEVER MADE IT TO THE FIFTH GRADE, WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE HER 15TH BIRTHDAY, PROM, GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND BECOMING A VET, VISITING PARIS, OR EVEN FALLING IN LOVE. SHE WAS TAKEN BY BEING BRUTALLY MURDERED AT NINE YEARS OLD. WE’RE NOT HERE TO TAKE ANYONE’S GUNS AWAY. I’M A GUN OWNER. I DON’T WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT I SAW. I SAW MY 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER DRAPED IN A WHITE SHEET, COLD AND ALONE ON THE OPERATING ROOM. I SAW THE WOUND THAT TOOK HER LIFE. I DON’T WANT ANY OF Y’ALL TO SEE THAT. WE NEED TO CHANGE THESE LAWS. BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.”

MARIA: AFTER THE HEARING, THE BILL WAS APPROVED IN COMMITTEE. 

[AMBI OF CROWD CHEERING AFTER THE APPROVAL]

IT WAS HISTORIC, BUT, STILL, NOT ENOUGH. THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED, AND THE BILL WAS NOT BROUGHT UP FOR A VOTE ON THE SENATE OR HOUSE FLOOR. TEXAS LAWMAKERS MEET EVERY TWO YEARS, SO JACKIE’S PARENTS MIGHT NOT SEE LAWS CHANGE ANYTIME SOON.  

AND – SINCE THE UVALDE MASSACRE LAST YEAR, THERE ALSO HASN’T BEEN SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS EITHER.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

[MARIA GREETS THE GONZALEZ FAMILY]

[AMBI OF CAITLYNE PRACTICING BASEBALL]

MARIA: I JUMP OUT OF THE CAR, AND I SEE CAITLYNE’S LITTLE SISTER, CAMILA, IN THE DRIVEWAY.

MARIA: NO, CAMILA. NO ME DAS UN ABRAZO?

IT’S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE I LAST SAW THEM AT THE RALLY IN AUSTIN. 

TAPE, MARIA RETURNING TO UVALDE

MARIA: HIIIIIII!

CAMILA: HI!

MARIA: HOW ARE YOU DOING?

CAMILA: GOOD

MARIA: WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?

CAMILA: I’M DOING SOFTBALL.

MARIA: CAMILA IS THROWING A BALL AT CAITLYNE, SO THAT SHE CAN SWING AT IT WITH HER BAT. IN FACT CAITLYNE HAS A BIG SOFTBALL GAME COMING UP AND SHE’S EXCITED ABOUT IT AND NOW WANTS TO BE CALLED, “CAITLYNE ‘THE SLIDER’ GONZALES.”

TAPE

CAITLYNE: “CAMILA, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE BALL. IF IT HITS YOU, IT HITS YOU, OK?

MARIA: CAITLYNE’S SOFTBALL TEAM IS NAMED THE PURPLE DIAMONDS, AND SHE IS PRACTICING BEFORE THE GAME.

TAPE

MARIA: WHOA, SHE GOT A HIT. THAT’S DEFINITELY A HOME RUN. THAT’S WHAT A HOME RUN LOOKS LIKE. YEAH. ONE, TWO, THREE. FOUR-AND-A-HALF. FIVE 

OH, AND SHE DID THE SLIDE! SHE DID THE SLIDE!

MARIA: I’VE BEEN WITH CAITLYNE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES AND I ALREADY SENSE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HER. TODAY, SHE’S VERY OPEN. SHE’S PRESENT. SHE’S PLAYFUL. SHE’S ENGAGING ME.

GLADYS PULLS ME ASIDE WHILE CAITLYNE CONTINUES PRACTICING BATTING WITH CAMILA. SHE TELLS ME SHE HAD SOME NEWS.

TAPE

GLADYS: “SHE BROKE IT TO ME LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO THAT SHE WANTED TO SLEEP ON HER OWN. I MEAN FOR NINE MONTHS, I THINK, WE WERE SLEEPING TOGETHER AND I SAID, “OH OKAY. THAT’S GREAT. I DIDN’T WANT TO MAKE A BIG DEAL BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO SAY I’M TOO EXCITED TO GO BACK TO MY BEDROOM.” IT WAS A MIX OF FEELINGS. SHE CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND HER, AND I JUST— I DON’T KNOW. I GOT TEARY-EYED.

MARIA: WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

GLADYS: “I THINK THE PROGRESS SHE’S HAD HAD WITH EMDR. JUST THE FACT THAT I’M NOT HAVING TO SLEEP BY HER TOES IS BIG BECAUSE, I MEAN, I SLEPT FOR NINE MONTHS LIKE ON THE EDGE OF THE BED.”

MARIA: “WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU, OR YOUR MARRIAGE.”

GLADYS: FOR A LONG TIME MY HUSBAND AND I WERE LIKE ROOMMATES.

MARIA: “SO HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THIS ALL? ARE YOU LIKE THIS IS GOOD FOR NOW, BUT IT MIGHT CHANGE? BECAUSE I STILL THINK CAITLYNE IS PRETTY UNPREDICTABLE, RIGHT? 

GLADYS: “I’M FEELING OPTIMISTIC. I’M HOPEFUL FOR THE PROGRESS THAT SHE’S MADE. I’M HOPEFUL FOR THE UPCOMING PROGRESS THAT SHE’S GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE. WE’RE JUST TAKING IT A DAY AT A TIME. EVERY LITTLE STEP IS A BIG STEP IN OUR EYES.

MARIA: GLADYS SAYS NOW THAT HER DAUGHTERS ARE SITUATED WITH THERAPY, IT’S HER TURN TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF BY FINDING A THERAPIST TOO. 

TAPE

GLADYS: “I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH PRIMERO ELLA ANTES QUE YO. I GREW UP IN THAT HOUSEHOLD WHERE IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, TEND TO THE KIDS AND LEAVE YOURSELF TO THE BACKBURNER. AND AFTER MAY 24, IT WAS QUITE HONESTLY ALL ABOUT CAITLYNE, EVEN CAMILA. JUST MAKING SURE SHE WASN’T LEFT TO THE SIDE, AND IT WAS JUST DOING DAMAGE CONTROL. SO NOW I’M HAVING TO RE-PUT, YOU KNOW, THE PIECES TOGETHER, SO NOW IT’S MY TURN.”

MARIA: I’M SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

MUSIC

MARIA: GLADYS CALLS OUT TO CAITLYNE AND CAMILA SAYING IT’S TIME TO GO INSIDE. NOW, THE CAITLYNE BEFORE MY EYES IS BEING A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL, IN FACT, ONE THAT’S ABOUT TO TURN 11. SHE’S LAUGHING. SHE’S PLAYING, AND A LOT OF IT SEEMS TO BE BECAUSE SHE’S BEEN GETTING HELP.

TAPE 

MARIA: HOW’S THE THERAPY GOING?

CAITLYNE: I SLEEP BY MYSELF.

MARIA: WHAT?

CAITLYNE: YES. THIS BED’S ALL TO ME.

MARIA: WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

CAITLYNE: I DON’T HAVE TO SHARE WITH MY MOM. I DON’T HAVE TO SHARE WITH MY SISTER.

MARIA: THAT’S A BIG STEP, MAMITA. WHAT HAPPENED?

CAITLYNE: I TOLD MY MOM I WANT TO SLEEP BY MYSELF.

MARIA: WHAT MADE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN? 

CAITLYNE: ALL MY FRIENDS SLEEP BY THEMSELVES, AND I WANT TO SLEEP BY MYSELF. 

MARIA: SO YOU JUST WERE LIKE, I’M GOING TO DEAL WITH BEING AFRAID. IT’S OKAY. I CAN HANDLE IT?

CAITLYNE: YES.

MARIA: SEEING CAITLYNE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS MOMENT IS REALLY REASSURING TO ME BECAUSE WHAT SHE’S DOING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR HER ENTIRE TOWN IS TOUGH. SHE NEEDS MOMENTS LIKE THESE TO STAY GROUNDED FOR THE FIGHT THAT LIES AHEAD. THE FIGHT THAT SHE’S IN, FOR HER FRIENDS, THAT ARE NO LONGER PHYSICALLY HERE WITH HER.

[AMBI OF MARIA AND CAITLYNE WALKING IN THE CEMETERY]

AND TO GET STRENGTH FOR THAT FIGHT, CAITLYNE OFTEN VISITS A PLACE THAT HAS COME TO MEAN A LOT FOR HER. SO, SHE WANTED TO TAKE ME THERE. THE SUN IS SETTING OVER THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH TEXAS SKY. THERE’S SHADES OF PINK, PURPLE AND ORANGE EVERYWHERE.

TAPE 

MARIA: IS THIS WHERE YOU COME TO TALK TO JACKIE?

CAITLYNE: MHM. 

MARIA: WE’RE AT THE LOCAL CEMETERY IN UVALDE, AND I’VE BEEN TO A LOT OF CEMETERIES IN MY LIFE, AND I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SAY THIS, BUT THIS CEMETERY IN UVALDE IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY I’VE EVER SEEN. 

THERE’S COLOR, FLOWERS EVERYWHERE. AND NOW, WE ARE AT JACKIE’S CEMETERY PLOT.

TAPE MARIA WITH CAITLYNE

CAITLYNE: “HERE, WANT TO LIGHT IT AGAIN?”

SOMEONE LIGHTS SPARKLER 

MARIA: “HERE WE GO”

MARIA: CAITLYNE HAS BROUGHT A SPARKLER TO LIKE, SO WE DO THAT 

FLASHES OF COLOR AND LIGHT SPROUT FROM THE TIP AS CAITLYNE HOLDS ONTO IT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE’S RUNNING AROUND IN CIRLCES AROUND JACKIE’S CEMETERY PLOT. AND SHE’S LAUGHING AND SMILING, AND SO AM I BECAUSE THIS IS A PLACE WHERE CAITLYNE COMES TO CONNECT WITH JACKIE. 

[MUSIC] 

NOW, ALL I SEE IS THAT HUGE SMILE ON CAITLYNE’S FACE, KNOWING THAT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE IN THIS MOMENT, SHE’S WITH HER BEST FRIEND, JACKIE. 

[MUSIC FADES]

[LUSA THEME MUSIC]

CREDITS

“UVALDE RISING” IS AN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF FUTURO INVESTIGATES AND LATINO USA. SOME OF THE REPORTING FOR THIS EPISODE IS BASED ON THE PBS FRONTLINE DOCUMENTARY FILM “AFTER UVALDE: GUNS, GRIEF & TEXAS POLITICS.” WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE WATCH THE FILM AS WELL.

THIS EPISODE WAS PRODUCED BY REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR. AND FROM FUTURO INVESTIGATES SOFÍA SÁNCHEZ. IT WAS EDITED BY DAISY CONTRERAS. 

THIS EPISODE WAS MIXED BY STEPHANIE LEBOW, JULIA CARUSO, AND GABRIELA BAEZ. IT WAS FACT-CHECKED BY AMY TARDIF.

PENILEY RAMÍREZ IS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF FUTURO INVESTIGATES, ALONG WITH MYSELF. 

OUR EDITORIAL DIRECTOR IS FERNANDA SANTOS.

THE LATINO USA TEAM ALSO INCLUDES:

ANDREA LÓPEZ-CRUZADO

MARTA MARTINEZ

MIKE SARGENT

VICTORIA ESTRADA

PATRICIA SULBARÁN
AND ELIZABETH LOEWENTHAL TORRES

THE PROJECT MANAGERS OF FUTURO INVESTIGATES ARE NANCY TRUJILLO AND RAUL PEREZ-HINOJOSA, WHO CONTRIBUTED WITH FIELD REPORTING.  

OUR ASSOCIATE ENGINEER IS JJ QUERUBIN.

OUR MARKETING MANAGER IS LUIS LUNA.

OUR THEME MUSIC WAS COMPOSED BY XENIA RUBINOS.

SPECIAL THANKS TO RANEY ARONSON-RATH, NINA CHAUDRY, LAUREN PRESTILEO, SEWELL CHAN, URIEL J. GARCIA, ZACH DESPART, PERLA TREVIZO, MONICA MUÑOZ MARTINEZ, HEIDI BURKE, AMY BUCHER, MARIANA SURILLO AND JESSICA ELLIS FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, HELP AND SUPPORT DURING THE REPORTING OF THIS STORY.

I’M YOUR HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MARIA HINOJOSA.

YOU CAN STREAM OUR DOCUMENTARY FILM ONLINE.

FOR MORE ON OUR COVERAGE OF THE UVALDE MASSACRE, VISIT FUTURO INVESTIGATES.ORG.

REMEMBER TO CATCH OUR NEXT EPISODE AND SEE US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND UNTIL NEXT TIME, REMEMBER, NO TE VAYAS. THANKS FOR LISTENING. CIAO.

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