UVALDE, Texas (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited Uvalde on Sunday and faced the difficult task of offering solace and comfort to a community in mourning after a school shooting left 19 children and two adults dead last week.
Gathering at Robb Elementary School, the Bidens laid flowers in honor of the 21 victims and those gathering yelled “our children are our community” and “we need help” to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as he arrived at the memorial.
“We need change. Our children don’t deserve this,” an onlooker told Abbott.
“President Biden, we need help! We need help, President Biden!”, someone shouted from the crowd.
The Bidens then attended Sunday mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where they met with religious leaders. The first lady greeted a few parishioners seated along the aisle of the church, according to the pool reporter. As they left the church, some spectators yelled to the President “do something!”
“We will,” Biden answered.
While at church, the Bidens met with Gustavo García-Siller, the archbishop of San Antonio, who led the service.
“Our hearts are broken with sadness and mourning but we know God is with us,” García-Siller said.
President Joe Biden and Jill Biden pay their respects at a memorial outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 29, 2022. (Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP – Getty Images)
“It’s one of the hardest and saddest things for me to see,” Andrea Ramirez said. “I’m angry and hurt. My heart is so broken for these families and the community. These are kids, man. KIDS! Innocent little angels. Enough is enough.”
While in Uvalde, Biden also met with local officials and with the families of the victims in an effort to show support for the community in mourning.
The visit marks the second time in just over a week that Biden has made a trip to the site of a mass shooting. On May 17, he visited Buffalo to meet families of a racially motivated mass shooting at a grocery store.
According to the White House, Biden has over three hours blocked off on his schedule to meet with the families of the tragedy. He may also use the moment to urge Congress once again to pass reform on current gun laws, something he has done repeatedly in the wake of two mass shootings.
