AURORA, Colo. — The families of those slain at an Aurora movie theater in July recently received an invitation from Cinemark to attend the company’s reopening of that same theater later this month.
On Wednesday, FOX31 Denver obtained a copy of a letter signed by 11 of the 12 victim’s families and sent in response to the company’s invitation. Referring to the Century 16 theater in Aurora as “the killing field of our children,” the letter called the company’s invitation “disgusting.”
The theater reopening is currently scheduled for Jan. 17.
“You (Cinemark) have shown, and continue to show, ZERO compassion to the families of the victims whose loved ones were killed in that theater,” the letter reads. “You, Cinemark, have never once reached out to the families to offer condolences.”
The letter goes on to express disappointment about the timing of the company’s invitation, which reportedly came two days after the first Christmas that they spent without their loved ones.
“During the holiday we didn’t think anyone or anything could make our grief worse but you, Cinemark, have managed to do just that,” the letter reads. “Thanks for making what is a very difficult holiday season that much more difficult. Timing is everything and yours is awful.”
RELATED: Read the full letter sent by victims’ families to Cinemark
The letter claims that Cinemark has refused the victims’ families “repeated invitations to speak parent to parent with no lawyers involved.” More than a dozen victims and their families are currently suing Cinemark with the help of a New York law firm that won $816.5 million for first-responders to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The decision to reopen the theater came after a city of Aurora online poll showed residents would support such a move. However, the letter from the victims’ families asserts that Cinemark chose to reopen the theater for financial reasons.
“Thank you for reminding us how your quest for profits has blinded your leadership and made you so callous as to be oblivious to our mental anguish,” the letter reads.
The letter concludes with a promise that the involved families will push for a boycott of the Aurora theater reopening event.
“We will be using every social media tool at our disposal to ask the other victims to ask their friends and family to honor us by boycotting the killing field of our children,” the letter reads.
