Jose Villarreal, a sociology lecturer, and the Department of Sociology organized two altars for Día de los Muertos in honor of migrants that have died while trying to cross the Rio Grande border and the El Paso shooting victims.
“The idea came to have a different version of the Día De Los Muertos altar from the recent occurrences that our nation has been experiencing,” Villarreal said.
The altars are located in front of the Department of Sociology office, located on the third floor of the Liberal Arts Building North.
The altars are filled with pictures of the victims and also traditional Día de los Muertos items.
The El Paso shooting, which he calls a “massacre,” had a significant impact on the Mexican-American community. Twenty-two people died after a gunman targeted Latinos in a Walmart.
“By honoring and remembering them as innocent victims, of someone who’s very hateful, then this will further our knowledge of the gray situation that our nation is in and encourage our students to become more concerned with all humankind, regardless of race and color,” Villarreal said.
His race and ethnic relations class helped put together the two altars by donating items and helping set them up.
One of those students, Carlos Garcia, a social work junior, explained the altars were to bring light to these issues and not to pretend these things never happen.
“This is happening every day, this is happening right now,” Garcia said.
The other altar was for migrants who have died at the border or traveling through the deserts of the Southwest and migrants all across the world who are in similar circumstances.
“We are also honoring the migrants who have perished at the border, not only here at the border, but in the Mediterranean, in Africa, in the Pacific, but also focus on the U.S.-Mexico border,” Villarreal said. “These are forced migrations that people are fleeing these countries due to corruption … abusive governments, violence and economic deterioration.”
He tries to emphasize these real-world issues to his students.
“World capitalism is a cause of migration, of these forced migrations, so we want to educate by showing sometimes the graphic photos of
these persons who have perished,” Villarreal said.
He blames the current administrative laws that make it hard for people to seek asylum.
“These are human beings that have perished seeking a better life and we should pressure our government for more comprehensive immigration reform to avoid the death of children, to avoid the death of parents, to avoid the death of people,” Villarreal said.
Elizabeth Ibarra, a social work junior, also helped Villarreal with the altars.
“It’s really sad that they’re just trying to look for a better life for themselves and their families and they didn’t make it,” she said.
Ibarra said she has a small altar in her house that is dedicated to her mother. It has become a tradition in her home.
The altars will be on display until Friday.
