Growing up as a first-generation American, my biggest worry was not being able to stay connected to the cultures and traditions of my people. I was born to older parents, so death was an unspoken truth in my household—I knew the time to grieve them would come sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, before ever facing the grief of losing a parent, I lost friends and neighbors to gun violence, from suicide to community gun violence—all who I remember today. For many Latinos, Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) allows us to honor those we’ve lost, remember their life, and turn our grief into a celebration.
After losing my father, the Day of the Dead became a meaningful way for me to connect with my heritage and traditions through my children, especially my youngest. Día de los Muertos wasn’t part of my upbringing, but for me, it’s important that my children honor those who are not here and celebrate their culture proudly and vibrantly, while remembering those we have lost.
Yet for so many, this celebration has been haunted by gun violence. With gun violence disproportionately affecting Latinos, it has taken away so many opportunities to celebrate our loved ones in life. Now, I worry it may overshadow our tradition, staining it with pain instead of allowing us to honor it with love and remembrance.
So, this year, I want to celebrate the Day of the Dead by remembering those we have lost to gun violence. Through the creation of ofrendas (altars) and heartfelt conversations, this holiday can be a platform for healing, reflection, and open dialogue about mental health, gun violence, and sharing stories of those we dearly miss. It’s a reminder that love and remembrance extend even to those who have left this world in such difficult circumstances, emphasizing the importance of compassion and empathy.
But it’s also important to honor those we lost to gun violence with action—so that the holiday is not marred by the impacts of firearms.
Two years ago, I joined Moms Demand Action because I was worried about my eight-year-old’s safety while in school. Since then, I have found a space to heal the loss of my friends who I lost to gun suicide and have found a community dedicated to ending gun violence.
In many Latino households, gun violence is not talked about nearly enough. Especially when nearly two-thirds of all gun deaths among Latinos in the United States are homicides, and members of our community are twice as likely to die by gun homicide and four times as likely to be wounded by gun as white people.
Therefore, on this Día de los Muertos, as we remember and celebrate the lives of our Latino community members lost to gun violence, let us hold their memories close to our hearts. But tomorrow, let us transform our grief into action.
We must show our leaders that we demand continued action to save lives and work tirelessly to create a world where the heartbreaking norm of losing loved ones to gun violence becomes a distant memory. Together, we can honor their lives not only with our thoughts and prayers but with meaningful action that brings change, ensuring a safer and more just future for the next generation.
