Oral history interview with David Becker conducted by Claytee D. White and Barbara Tabach on May 15, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Becker recalls being on a three-day assignment at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival across from the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thinking the gunfire was produced by malfunctioning equipment, he took photos of the scattering crowd. Moments later, in a now silent venue, he realized he captured a horrific massacre. Becker recalls photographing people leaving the venue as they performed acts of heroism, helping the fallen or the slow to reach safety. He discusses how difficult it is to comprehend the acts of that night, and how his photojournalist instincts allowed him to capture such devastating images.
Oral history interview with Hernando Amaya conducted by Laurents Banuelos-Benitez, Marcela Rodriguez-Campo, and Barbara Tabach on October 18, 2018 and December 3, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Hernando Amaya talks about his childhood and education in Bogota, Colombia. He discusses his start in journalism as a young man and working for El Espectador, the Colombian national newspaper. He discusses his experiences reporting on the narco-terrorism occurring in Medellin, Colombia and how this eventually led to his immigration to the United States. Amaya moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001 and continued his career in journalism by working for local Spanish speaking papers and websites. He relates his civic involvement in the Las Vegas area, his work as the president of the Colombian Association of Las Vegas, and various other civic engagements. As a journalist, he asserts the importance of knowing one's culture, storytelling, learning history, and being active in the community.
Oral history interview with Andrea Gardea conducted by Barbara Tabach on June 26, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Gardea starts talking about her early life, family, and family history. She explains why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002 and why she chose to attend University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After, Gardea describes what happened before and during the Route 91 Harvest festival, what she experienced during the shooting, and her journey in escaping the scene. She talks about the aftermath of the shooting, the trauma and PTSD experienced, and her healing process. Gardea also talks about the making of Engelland’s Vegas Born Heroes Foundation in 2018, what they do, and what they represent. Lastly, she talks about her opinions on gun control and her viewpoint on making peace.