Support Beth's Recovery!

(photo above, left to right: Tim Tsai, Colin Harrington, Beth Aplin-Martin, Angela Pires)

I got to know Beth through the making of the documentary "Seadrift." Her father, Billy Joe Aplin, was killed in Seadrift, TX in the late seventies when Beth was in her teens. The incident and its aftermath spurred anti-Vietnamese hostilities across many communities on the gulf coast.

Beth shared her personal experiences in the film, giving us an understanding of what transpired beyond what was reported by news media at the time.

Although she was hesitant to participate in the film at first, understandable given how deeply personal and traumatic the experience was for her and her family, we have become good friends since the film's release.

I know Beth as a kind woman who has been the primary caregiver for her mother over the last several years. I also know her as a brave activist who, in 2019, stood outside the courthouse in Seguin, TX where her father's murder trial was held, with signs reading "Make #LoveSupremacy Not #WhiteSupremacy" and having conversations with passersby as her way of reclaiming her father's legacy and spreading a message of love instead of hate.

I recently learned of Beth's health issues that have worsened in recent weeks. She's experiencing atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart beat) and has severe edema (swelling) in her legs and feet, and moving around the house has become a challenge. Beth is seeing a cardiologist and undergoing further testing for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other conditions, and we hope to learn more about her prognosis in the coming weeks, but any donations now would be very helpful, and will go directly toward her medical bills ($1,700 deductible + copays), as well as expenses such as travel, groceries, and a caregiver for her mom when necessary.

Beth's mother worked for years as a restaurant waiter in Seguin, and Beth worked as a medication aid at nursing homes and was the caregiver for her late husband as he battled lung cancer. If Beth's story and actions have touched you in some way, as it certainly has for me, please consider a donation to support them during this challenging time.