June 28, 2023 – Amadeo Quindara, a 75-year-old elderly Filipino American, was mercilessly attacked by his neighbor on May 30, 2023, in Clark County, Nevada. While Mr. Quindara survived the attack, he will forever be traumatized by the suspect, 44- year old Christian Lentz. In the video evidence, Lentz yells racial slurs and tells the senior to “be on a ventilator.” The elderly kababayan suffered bruises to his face, deep cuts on his head, and a black eye due to multiple punches from the suspect.
To add trauma to the already beaten up Filipino American, the suspect walked out and yelled “Die” multiple times at Quindara after he was slammed on the ground.
Per reports, Lentz was initially arrested for felony residential burglary but was also later released by the police. On June 16, that charge was upgraded as a hate crime enhancement, and he was also charged with elder abuse as a hate crime. The suspect is scheduled to return to court on July 3.
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) stands in solidarity with the Quindara Family in their ongoing fight for justice. Desert Mountain Regional President Sally Balecha commented, “Our Filipino Americans should not live in fear, particularly our manongs and manangs. They have been through a lot already, and Tatay Amadeo does not deserve to be treated like this.”
Jacque de Joya, Nevada State President, added, “We ask for help from our elected leaders and local authorities in the Las Vegas area and ensure justice is served. We call for increased protection for our elderlies to avoid this from happening again.”
Mindie Lloyd of Bamboo Bridges, NaFFAA’s partner organization that builds collaborations among Asian-Pacific American communities, shared, “We stand with the victims and their families. This senseless violence fueled by hate has to stop now.”
NaFFAA Nevada will hold a “Rally Against Asian Hate” to call for justice for Quindara. The protest will take place in front of the Regional Justice Center at 10 a.m. on June 29. NaFFAA is grateful to SEIU and other partners for spearheading this rally.
NaFFAA President Mariela Fletcher, who will be flying to join the rally on Thursday, also added, “It will take a collaborative effort among Asian American groups to empower more than 4.2 million Filipino Americans and combat Asian hate in this country. Let us work together to end this!”
Contact: Mark Eyo, Communications Lead
mark.eyo@naffaa.org
