A thousand people chanted 'I am Campos Torres' at memorial dedication – Houston Chronicle

Margarita Torres held her chin high and gaze solemn through a three-hour ceremony to honor her son, but when the rifles saluted and "Silver Taps" notes played Saturday, her face began to soft.

The 87-year-old's eyes couldn't hold back tears anymore as she watched the unveiling of a tall marker in memory of her son, José "Joe" Campos Torres, just days shy of the 45th anniversary of his brutal death at the hands of Houston Police officers.

Long the advocate for justice in her only son's case, Torres didn't need to speak during the dedication ceremony. During an emotional moment, the crowd of roughly 1,000 stood and chanted "I am Campos Torres."

More than 20 politicians and leaders were at the event, including U.S. Reps. Sylvia Garcia and Sheila Jackson Lee, Sen. Carol Alvarado, Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, and Houston councilmembers Karla Cisneros and Robert Gallegos.