WASHINGTON -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, is expected to bring a delegation of survivors, victims and family members of victims of the El Paso Walmart mass shooting as her guests to the Democratic primary debate in Houston on Sept. 12, according to a press release.

Escobar represents El Paso, where earlier this summer, a gunman opened fire at a Walmart near the border with Mexico, killing 22 people and injuring dozens more.

“I’m honored to be attending the Democratic Debates alongside these incredibly resilient El Pasoans who exemplify the unbreakable spirit of our beautiful city,” Escobar said in the release. “They represent not only the strength of El Paso, but also millions of Americans ready to fight for better gun safety legislation.”

“We are attending the debate together in order to send a message to the candidates and the country: the massacre in El Paso must be a turning point for America. We must tackle both the gun violence epidemic and the hate epidemic that has been so destructive to communities like mine. We must make America safe again," the release also reads.

Escobar tweeted Tuesday: “We will always be #ElPasoStrong and our resilience will guide the way.”

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The suspect released a "manifesto" that expressed concern about an "invasion" by Hispanics that appeared on the anonymous message board 8chan less than a half hour before the shooting.

The El Paso shooting was one of four high-profile mass shootings that occurred while Congress was on summer recess.

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Several of the top Democratic presidential candidates who will be facing off during Thursday night's debate appeared in an ad together to support former Rep. Gabby Giffords' political organization and deliver a message on guns.

The candidates have offered different solutions on how to combat gun violence, but the video highlights their unified message on the need for action.

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