Asian American advocacy organizations in Texas are leading a charge to organize a community response to the Allen mass shooting and ensure the tragedy is not forgotten or repeated.
On May 6, a gunman killed eight people and injured seven others outside Allen Premium Outlets. It was the second-deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. this year. Authorities have said Mauricio Garcia brought eight weapons — five of which were inside his car — to the shooting, which lasted 3-4 minutes. All of the weapons were purchased legally.
Multiple organizations with ties to the Asian American community held a joint news conference Monday afternoon to call on authorities to fully investigate of the motives of the gunman and to push elected officials to pass gun reform laws. They were joined at Oak Lawn Methodist Church by local social justice groups with ties to other communities of color.
As part of Monday’s events, a vigil and community healing opportunity took place at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to honor the victims, many of whom were people of color. Four of the eight killed were of Asian descent.
The eight were identified as Kyu Cho, 37; Cindy Cho, 35; James Cho, 3; Daniela Mendoza, 11; Sofia Mendoza, 8; Christian LaCour, 20; Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32; and Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26.
“Without efforts to determine whether or not this was a racially motivated crime, it’s leaving communities feeling more vulnerable,” said Stephanie Drenka, co-founder of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society. “It is leaving the door open for other people who would commit certain crimes like this to think that they have the leeway to do so.”
Hank Sibley, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s North Texas regional director, said the shooter may have targeted the location — not necessarily a group of people.
However, Drenka said the DPS statement reveals a fundamental “lack of understanding of how systemic racism works.”
”You can’t separate location from the people who live there,” she said. “What Allen is known for is being diverse, as being an area where there is a large Asian American and South Asian American population.”
Chanda Parbhoo, founder of SAAVETX — a group that advocates for South Asian American voting empowerment — said her world was shattered after learning the shooter had references of hate for Indian women on social media.
Lily Trieu, with Asian Texans for Justice, speaks at press briefing hosted by Texas-based…
Lily Trieu, with Asian Texans for Justice, speaks at press briefing hosted by Texas-based Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups. Pictured behind Trieu from left to right are Ramiro Luna, Jerry Hawkins, Chanda Parbhoo, Stephanie KyeongSeon Drenka and Amit Banerjee.(Noor Adatia)
She read testimonials from several members of the South Asian community who expressed fear and trauma following the mass shooting.
Parbhoo said the Asian American community, although frightened, must call for action from elected officials and law enforcement agencies.
“We cannot sit in the shadows of discrimination any longer,” Parbhoo said.
Lily Trieu, executive director of Austin-based Asian Texans for Justice, said her organization is working with the Dallas Asian American Historical Society to build solidarity among different North Texas groups and amplify their message for change.
She said hate, racism and gun violence are problems that destroy the lives of all Texans and disproportionately affect communities of color.
Related:Community members mourn the loss of victims of Allen outlet mall shooting
“Mass gun violence will continue to happen unless we make substantial changes to state policy, and we have to be here in solidarity with our local partners here in the D-FW area because state lawmakers aren’t doing their jobs,” Trieu said.
More than 150 people of all cultural and ethnic backgroundst attended Monday’s event, which featured guest speakers, prayers, group healing exercises and musical performances.
Jerry Hawkins, executive director at Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, speaks…
Jerry Hawkins, executive director at Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, speaks behind photos of the Allen mall mass shooting victims during a candlelight vigil at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church on Monday, May 15, 2023, in Dallas.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Erika Moritsugu, Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison for the White House, told attendees of the healing event that she, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris feel the pain felt by many North Texans.
“They want you to know that you are seen and not forgotten,” Moritsugu said.
Erika Moritsugu, deputy assistant to the President and AAPI senior liaison, reads a letter…
Erika Moritsugu, deputy assistant to the President and AAPI senior liaison, reads a letter from Vice-President Kamala Harris during a candlelight vigil for victims of the Allen mall mass shooting at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church on Monday, May 15, 2023, in Dallas.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Aisa Villarosa, director of youth organizing for StopAAPIHate, said the nonprofit provides resources to areas where events like the mass shooting in Allen and the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings occurred.
The organization is based in California, but has tracked anti-Asian hate incidents across the country since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
“In addition to supporting each other in these hard moments, it’s also about long-term policy change,” Villarosa said.
