A memorial for 53 migrants who died in a 2022 human trafficking tragedy was vandalized on Quintana Road on the South Side. The site, marked by 53 crosses, was maintained by local volunteers. Last Saturday, Angelina Olvera arrived and found the crosses damaged. “When I drove up and I'm like, 'where are the crosses?' And then when I see them on the ground, it just, I just started crying. I'm sorry," Olvera told FOX San Antonio.
Local officials and community members condemned the incident, with Mayor Ron Nirenberg calling it an "act of hate" and stating, “And as far as I'm concerned, this appears to be a hate crime,” according to FOX San Antonio. District Attorney Joe Gonzales indicated his office intends to prosecute it as a hate crime. The San Antonio Police Department has identified a suspect facing Criminal Mischief charges ranging from $2,500 to $30,000 as the investigation continues. Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, speaking after a local march, said, “They will not destroy us. They will not keep us down. They hate to not stop us. We need to unite and we need to showcase that San Antonio truly is compassionate City, USA."
A memorial in San Antonio for the 53 migrants who died in an abandoned container on June 27, 2022, was vandalized overnight between last Friday and Saturday. The site was previously damaged by fire in November. The vandalism occurred as two individuals connected to the case face life sentences on the third anniversary of the victims’ discovery. San Antonio police are asking for the public’s help in identifying those responsible, and city officials, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Councilwoman Rocha Garcia, are considering adding security cameras. Volunteers and officials have begun repairs, with Rocha Garcia stating, “We've already had a lot of outpouring of support from the community saying ‘count me in,’” as mentioned by KSAT.
