Half Moon Bay community holds vigil for 2023 mass shooting victims
It was a night of prayer, music and healing as the Half Moon Bay community gathered to remember the seven lives lost in the 2023 mass shooting of farmworkers.
It was described as workplace violence as a farmworker opened fire at two Half Moon Bay farms.
Community members gathered to support each other in this time of grief. For many, time hasn't healed the emotional wounds.
"It's been a heavy heavy two years," said Sandra Sencion, Alas Farmworker Program Director.
Sencion does farmworker outreach with an organization called ALAS. She has worked directly with the Latino families impacted by the shooting. Sao Leng U meets with the Asian families that cannot forget what happened.
"Although it's been two years, they still remember the day they hear the gunshots," said Sao Leng U with Self Help for the Elderly. "All those memories from time to time there is a flashback. They will never forget it."
While many services have been offered to the victims' families, healing has come with hurdles. This band was created through the cultural arts music therapy program, to sing and play music through grief.
"That has been such an immense help for our community to come out and share how they are feeling," said Sencion. "Sometimes the regular therapy, the 1-1 is a lot to process. So through music, through lyrics, we found that our community has found the means of healing."
Since the mass shooting, San Mateo County and other government agencies have offered services to improve living conditions for farmworkers.
But organizations now fear that undocumented farmworkers will be afraid to ask for help.
"Our community will need to stay connected," said Sao Leng U. "We should share the information and don't fear being deported."
As farmworkers, community leaders and residents gathered for this vigil, the message Friday night was this is a community united, willing to help neighbors in need.
"Ever since this tragedy happened, I think our community is committed more than ever to keep continuing to work together and improving conditions for our farm workers and our community as a whole," said Sencion.