In Montgomery, Alabama, a dark undercurrent of violence has given rise to fear in the Latino community. For a long time, they have been expressing concerns, describing a dreadful incident at a local store as the eventual outcome of ill-handled aggression. Christina Morales journeyed to Montgomery, where she engaged with numerous Latino entrepreneurs, community leaders, and locals, their conversations flowing primarily in Spanish.
Billy Daniel López García, on the afternoon of 4th June, was contemplating his future. He escorted his girlfriend to a jewelry shop and delighted her with a silver ring, a symbol of his enduring promise. He pledged to present her with an engagement ring after her 20th birthday. Prior to heading out for a celebratory dinner, they decided to visit Mr. López García’s father at their family’s store, Tienda Los Hermanos, a local grocery shop offering items from their home country, Guatemala.
The recent surge in violent burglaries in and around other Latino-owned businesses in Montgomery had sowed the seeds of distress in their hearts. A mere few moments before the shop closure, Tienda Los Hermanos witnessed the entrance of two armed intruders. They initiated a shooting spree, taking the lives of Mr. López García, his father, and a close family acquaintance.
‘The landscape of America is fraught with danger,’ said Michelle Nambo Beltran, the girlfriend of Mr. López García. She added, ‘Danny had always dreamt of residing here, and the pursuit of this dream led him to pay with his life.’
The triple shooting had a profound impact on the inhabitants of Montgomery. Yet, several interviews reveal that Latino residents, activists, and entrepreneurs were vocalizing their distress for a significant duration of time. According to them, the tragedy at Tienda Los Hermanos was an expected result of a continuous chain of unchecked banditry and break-ins.
Maria Morales, who owns an ice cream shop named La Moraleja with her husband – a popular hub for Mexican ice-creams, declared, ‘An all-encompassing fear looms over us.’ The shop was the target of burglars thrice since its initiation the previous year. A daunting instance of Brazilian boldness occurred in April when their young daughters faced the barrel of the robbers’ guns.
Robberies have been on the rise in Montgomery, as reflected by the city’s data. Approximately 300 robberies were recorded only in the first six months of the current year. In contrast, around 403 incidents occurred throughout the year of 2023. If the rate of escalation remains unchanged, Montgomery may witness a 50 percent surge in robberies compared to 2023.
Mayor Steven Reed took a stand during a press conference that occurred a day after the shooting incident. He stated, ‘We see you, we hear you, and we’re not prepared to tolerate this.’
The pattern of Latinos being targeted by robbers is not an anomaly confined to Montgomery. The businesses that cater to them are mainly situated along a bustling highway, approximately eight miles from the State Capitol, not far from multiple mobile-home communities where immigrants reside.
Numerous other Latino-owned establishments in proximity to Tienda Los Hermanos have also experienced burglaries or break-ins. This disturbing pattern underscores an urgent need for action to protect communities and businesses in the area.
Montgomery Violence: Latino Community gripped by fear appeared first on Real News Now.
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