Trump 'owes people an apology,' Texas representative says after El Paso shooting

Transcript

U.S. President Donald Trump owes Americans an apology for his long history of anti-immigrant rhetoric, a Texas state representative said after Saturday's mass shooting in El Paso, Texas. 

At least 22 people were killed and dozens more injured when a gunman opened fire Saturday morning on a crowded shopping plaza in El Paso, a border city with a majority Hispanic population. 

The shooting is being investigated as a possible hate crime as authorities worked to confirm whether a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto posted online shortly beforehand was written by the man in custody. 

Cesar Blanco, a Democrat who represents El Paso in the Texas House of Representatives, spoke to As It Happens guest host Piya Chattopadhyay. Here is part of their conversation. 

Mr. Blanco, let me first just extend condolences to your community and your city.

Thank you very much. We're going through a tough time. But I also want to wish our condolences to the victims of the shooting in Dayton, Ohio.

I know it has only been two days since this shooting took place in El Paso. Can you tell me what the mood is like?

Our hearts are hurting, and it's just tragic that these type of things continue to happen throughout our country.

It appears that the attacker targeted people because they were Hispanic. And I know El Paso is a mixed community, but largely Hispanic. Can you tell me how unsettling knowing that is for the people of your city?

I think the federal government has a responsibility to protect all minorities in this country, and we want to see some action at the federal level to make sure that these type of things don't happen throughout the country.

It is frightening that this individual drove more than 600 miles away here to our community. They did the research clearly about our community, and wreaked havoc and fear. 

What is that like for you and your fellow citizens to see these deaths, the loss of people who are essentially your neighbours? This shooting happened in the neighborhood where you grew up.

We're dealing with it just like every other community has — with patience, with love, with compassion and, hopefully, with justice at the end of the day.

But we're left with questions about what happens next. What steps do we take as a community, as a state, as a nation to ensure that these things don't happen?

Well, let me ask you about that. Because since this shooting take took place on Saturday, some people have been drawing a line between the shooter, who [is believed to have written] about a "Hispanic invasion," and your president, President Donald Trump, who is known for his heated rhetoric on immigrants and immigration. But [on Monday], President Trump said, and I'm quoting him here, "In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy." What did you hear when the president said those words?

This is a president who kicked off his presidential campaign calling people of my ethnicity murderers, rapists, people who are invading our country.

I take offence to those comments as a veteran who served active duty in the military for six years. I consider myself a patriot of this country, just like any other Hispanic or any individual from any other race.

It starts from the top. It starts from our president. It starts with our members of Congress and our senators. And when that kind of hatred and language is utilized on the campaign trail, it gives permission for other folks to do the same.

The president has gone down this ugly path. He can't take it back. He's already gone down that path, and I think he owes people an apology. And we really don't believe that he's got any credibility when he says that he condemns racism.

Do you believe that the president holds some responsibility for what happened in El Paso on Saturday?

I think all leaders who don't immediately condemn any kind of racism has to have the responsibility and share responsibility for these type of things to continue to happen.

Separate from that, there's also the responsibility of leaders to act on reforming how easily accessible guns are in our country. For far too many times, we've seen these automatic assault rifles destroy our communities. Elected officials need to have the strength and the courage to do what's right to protect people. And we haven't seen that courage yet.

The president today also said, and again I'm quoting him, "Mental illness and hatred pulled the trigger, not the gun." He then added that he would look at strong background checks for gun owners. How much confidence do you have that the deaths in El Paso and in Dayton, Ohio, this weekend will prompt action on gun control?

We hope that there is action, but we've seen time and again politicians pivot to mental health. You know, those who suffer from mental health statistically are more likely to be victims than the perpetrators themselves.

It is time, I think — because we've received so many losses to life, innocent life in our country — that the politicians begin to take action rather than pivot to what's politically expedient at the moment.

We have a time in our history in this country to do what's right, to make bold decisions and protect our community.

I don't mean to be disrespectful here, but we have heard this kind of talk after every mass shooting in your country. So do you really believe this time anything is going to be different?

I think that our country should be ashamed that, as one of the only industrialized countries in the world where these type of massacres are occurring, and [that] the elected leadership continues to fail to take action is an embarrassment to the history of this country and an embarrassment to humanity.

We are better than this as a country. We must overcome this. And we need elected leaders to take action.

You are one of those elected leaders. You're in the House of Representatives in your in your state of Texas. What do you plan on doing when it comes to action?

I've authored legislation that eliminates the ability for high-powered magazines to be sold in the state of Texas. I've offered legislation that eliminates gun sales without background checks through internet loopholes.

I am somebody who has received training with high-powered rifles. I know the kind of carnage that they can create. And I've written legislation to prevent these kind of things to happen.

But none of my bills moved through the committee process or onto the House floor for a vote. We need to do that. We need the support. And it's got to be both Republicans and Democrats working together to save people's lives.

And do you expect that that will happen, given the divisiveness of between Republicans and Democrats across your country and in your state?

I can only have hope. And along with that hope, be relentless to be able to implement laws that save lives.

We have to. I owe it to the 20 victims — 22, actually, as of [Monday afternoon] — that were killed in my district, I owe it to them to continue to fight to make change in our country to keep people safe.

Written by Sheena Goodyear with files from The Associated Press. Interview produced by Kate Swoger. Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.