California
Altar set up for farmworker victims killed in mass shooting, many say they’re an invisible community
Altar set as much as honor victims of Half Moon Bay capturing
An altar was arrange in Half Moon Bay to honor this week’s mass capturing victims. Farmworkers, who have been affected by the violence, are sometimes invisible, neighborhood members say.
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. – Two brothers have been among the many victims who have been gunned down in Monday’s mass capturing in Half Moon Bay.
Jose Romero Perez, 38, was a father who had been residing in California whereas his spouse and 4 youngsters lived in Oaxaca, Mexico.
His brother, Pedro Romero Perez additionally was shot however survived after present process surgical procedure on the hospital.
The relative says the Perez brothers got here to Half Moon Bay about one yr in the past to work and stay on the Mountain Mushroom Farm on Freeway 92.
One other sufferer killed was Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, of Moss Seashore who was additionally from Mexico.
5 of the victims have been Chinese language farmworkers…two have been {couples}.
Zhishen Liu, 73, and Aixiang Zhang, 74, have been husband and spouse, Mandarin-speaking farmworkers who lived in San Francisco.
Qizhong Cheng, 66, and Jingzhi Lu, 64, have been married Cantonese-speaking farmworkers in Half Moon Bay.
One other sufferer killed was Yetao Bing a 43-year-old farmworker.
“We do have some Asian Indian and Filippinos which can be farmworkers, however Chinese language it’s actually a rarity to have Chinese language farmworkers,” stated Darlene Tenes, the founding father of the Farmworker Caravan.
Late Wednesday evening, her non-profit arrived in Half Moon Bay with a truck stuffed with donations for the ALAS home, which works with native farmworkers and their households.
“Most farmworkers do not report issues as a result of the massive majority are undocumented, 80-90% typically relying on their location,” stated Tenes.
Tenes says her staff had taken pictures simply weeks earlier than the mass capturing with staff who have been residing on the Mountain Mushroom Farm. The pictures present the trailers the place the farmworkers have been residing when volunteers introduced meals and donations to assist
“The Farmworker Caravan simply went there just a few weeks in the past for the week of Christmas,” stated Tenes.
SEE ALSO: Half Moon Bay capturing suspect charged with 7 counts of homicide
“I used to be pondering it was solely Latino neighborhood engaged on the farms,” stated Zenon Barron, a volunteer from El Granada, “I by no means seen Chinese language individuals. That was the primary time I noticed them.”
“It is a horrible situation. They do not have something there,” stated Barron, “I hear about they pay $9.50 an hour.”
Longtime residents in Half Moon Bay introduced flowers and messages to the Mac Dutra Park downtown the place a memorial was created for the victims. Many say they have been shocked, studying concerning the farmworkers, who they are saying are sometimes an unseen and unheard a part of the neighborhood.
“There’s this invisible workforce that is feeding everyone that folks exterior of the agricultural areas do not perceive,” stated Laura Wilson, who introduced a message to the memorial.
“It was an eyeopener that folks have been residing on trailers on website. We have been driving by one million occasions on freeway 92 and who knew?” stated Mind WIlson, a Half Moon Bay resident.
A coalition of Asian and Chinese language organizations are planning to assemble in Redwood Metropolis Friday to determine methods of serving to to assist the households.