Anti-Violence Rally For Fight Victim
Three weeks after Victor Vasquez was left in a coma following parking lot brawl, his friends and family rallied to support the young father of two.
The rally was held in a parking lot in East El Paso on Sunday morning. Victor’s close friends and family say they created the rally in order to bring attention to violent crimes in the area.
“Our cause is saying, ‘You know what? We’re tired of this,” said event organizer and Victor’s friend Rebecca Rodriguez. “Enough is enough, we need to take a stand.”
Victor’s friends and family rounded up support to pay for his medical costs, but also to make a local impact.
“(We started the event) to promote awareness about all different types of violence,” said Victor’s brother Freddy Vasquez. “(That’s) including domestic violence, bullying, date rape, and unfortunate situations my brother had to face, is facing.”
Freddy Vasquez said his brother, Victor, was out for his 30th birthday, when a bar fight turned into a parking lot fight. Police say Victor’s co-worker, Andre Billups, knocked him to the ground, leaving him with severe brain damage.
Freddy says the tragedy could have been avoided if calmer heads had prevailed.
“If they had taken a step back and tried to talk things out instead of getting physical, i think that would have gone a long way,” admitted Freddy.
Rodriguez says the rally is a much needed wake-up-call for the El Paso community.
“Violence is a very big problem here in El Paso, and you’ve even seen it in the past year,” insisted Rodriguez, “Every weekend you hear about someone getting beat up.”
Victor’s friend, Javier Aguilar, said the rally is just a jumping off point. He insisted the scope of the problem goes far beyond the Borderland.
“I don’t think it’s just El Paso,” claimed Aguilar. “It’s a growing problem everywhere and enough’s enough. The change has to start somewhere.”
Freddy confirmed that his brother is still at the hospital, making slow yet positive improvements. He said everyday he spends with Victor is ‘a blessing.’
