A veterans organization is drawing backlash for a racist question about the Uvalde shooter's citizenship—a question never asked about White gunmen—in the wake of the latest school shooting.
Code of Vets used their official Twitter account to post the question after noting the shooter's Hispanic name.
They tweeted:
"Did he cross the border illegally?"
"Our nation has a serious national security crisis evolving. God help us🙏🏽"
Pray for the victims, families and community. The killer was Salvador Ramos 18 years old. Did he cross the border illegally? Our nation has a serious national security crisis evolving. God help us🙏🏽 https://t.co/PHdb02RN0k
— Code of Vets ™ (@codeofvets) May 24, 2022
Some have assumed the shooter was in the country illegally because of early reports Customs and Border Patrol officers were some of the first to respond to the scene.
For a situation of this magnitude, the request for assistance would have gone out to all law enforcement agencies in the area—including CBP.
Twitter users weren't going to put up with the casual racism from Code of Vets.
Because of his last name you think he came illegally please 🙄 so that’s what my fellow Vets think of me then.
— Yami Flor (@YamsFlowers) May 24, 2022
You're being generous.
— Dan Brillman (@DanBrillman) May 24, 2022
He went to high school nearby but way to zoom in on his name. and you spelled serious GUN crises wrong
— Nick (@AZNickTwit) May 24, 2022
This is not the “code of vets”. Disgusting.
— Jerome Grayson (@JeromeG43) May 24, 2022
get in
{\__/}
( • . •)
/ >🗑
— Fiona Alexander (@fiona_alexander) May 24, 2022
Very weird tweet. This does nothing for veterans, as your bio suggests. With such a biased, readily available assumption, I have to wonder if you’re only for certain vets, anyway. Say it loud and proud if that’s your cause.
— mia (@matzo_nacho) May 24, 2022
Really? That's your first thought? Blatant racism because of the kids name?
— Jason Bohn (@jasonbohn9) May 24, 2022
Texas state Senator Roland Gutierrez said during an interview with CNN that state police had told him the shooter was born in North Dakota, though he did not specify where.
Local station WSLS10 reported the shooter attended Robb Elementary School when he was younger, while ABC7 reported he was a current student at Uvalde High School.
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