AUSTIN, Texas — There was a collective call to justice Sunday for a Black woman who was shot and killed by a deputy in Illinois.
The Austin Justice Coalition (AJC) brought the community together to take part in a nationwide day of mourning for Sonya Massey. The 36-year-old was shot in her home by now former-Deputy Sean Grayson after she called 911 to report a possible prowler.
Daphne McDole was among a small group that came together in front of the Cherrywood Center in East Austin to take part in a discussion about how the community can move forward from a shooting that has sparked a national outcry.
"This is a very important topic, and I felt compelled to be here because I cried tears when I saw Miss Massey lose her life at the hands of the police," McDole said. "As a Black woman in the United States, I fear calling the police for help."
McDole said having a conversation is the first step toward awareness, and she credits AJC Executive Director Chas Moore for opening up a space to do that.
"We could see every culture was represented at this meeting. That was very significant," McDole said.
For others, it was a moment of hope in a time of yet another tragedy and a moment to create a sense of real community among faces that were just strangers.
"We're constantly seeing that tragedy on TikTok, and TV and news and all of that and balancing – seeing like, there's hope, there's people who are recognizing this as a tragedy as violence. And they're not giving up," said Sambavi Venkatesan, a licensed professional counselor.
An autopsy report released Friday revealed Massey died from a gunshot wound to the head, per an AP News report. The ex-deputy has since been fired and charged with her death.