The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) joins communities across the U.S. in mourning and decrying the violent deaths of Asian-Americans in Monterey Park and migrant farmworkers at Half Moon Bay, the former during a Lunar New Year Celebration and the latter an incident of workplace violence. We grieve with the victims’ families over their loss and community members who are devastated by these sudden deaths. These acts of violence are a part of the over 30 mass shootings this year alone in the U.S. and leave the state of California reeling from back-to-back shootings that have killed 18 people altogether.
NAFCON sends our sincere condolences to the family of Valentino Alvero, a 68-year-old Filipino-American who was among the 11 victims of the Monterey Park incident. We also send our condolences to the 7 victims of the Half Moon Bay shooting, who were Asian and Latinx migrant farm workers at Mountain Mushroom Farm and Concord Farms.
After witnessing our communities suffer from loss brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and an epidemic of increased violent racial attacks on marginalized communities, we know that the ongoing public health crisis of mass shootings perpetuates fear, trauma, and hopelessness in our communities.
NAFCON encourages solidarity, community organizing, and community-led programs amidst increased tragedies in our communities. As an alliance of Filipino migrant institutions, faith-based organizations, health advocates, and progressive media groups, we pledge to contribute our time and skills to continue the work to protect and support each other.
We will continue to work with the most vulnerable and directly impacted in advocating for our communities basic needs and rights, such as victim support, mental health services, and economic justice. We will continue to push for a comprehensive public health approach to address the increased violence in our communities. Altogether, we vow to advocate for systemic change and demand justice and accountability for victims of injustices.
