Victims who died in violent crimes, drunk driving crashes, and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during a longstanding El Paso tradition.
The El Paso District Attorney’s Office, along with area law enforcement agencies, will host the “Reading of the Names Ceremony” at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 19, at the Crime Victims Memorial located at Ralph T. Cloud Park, also known as Yucca Park, 7975 Williamette Ave., in the Lower Valley.
“This ceremony is about honoring lives that mattered and remembering the families who continue to carry that loss,” El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said in a statement. “We have a responsibility to stand with victims and to continue doing the work to protect this community.”
The ceremony is part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which honors victims of violent crime and supports their families.
The names of nearly 2,000 El Pasoans who have died in violent crimes over the past few decades will be read during the annual ceremony. The names will include fallen El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Peter Herrera, the victims of ‘Desert Killer’ David Wood, and the El Paso Walmart mass shooting victims.
The names of the victims are read aloud at the Crime Victims Memorial “to ensure those lost to violence are remembered by their community,” Montoya said.
The annual event is attended by victims’ family members and friends, El Paso community members, district attorney’s office staff and local law enforcement officials.
Every April since 1981, the U.S. Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime and law enforcement agencies across the country have hosted events for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
This year, the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is being observed from April 19 to April 25. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities,” the U.S. Office of Victims of Crime website states.
“National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has challenged the nation to confront and remove barriers to achieve justice for all victims of crime,” U.S. Office of Victims of Crime website states. “During NCVRW (National Crime Victims’ Rights Week), we recognize the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come.”
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso to honor crime victims, fallen officers at annual ceremony
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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