Friends,
This morning, I stood alongside President Biden and families of the victims to grieve in the wake of Saturday’s deadly mass shooting in Buffalo.
I want to be clear about what happened on Saturday: A man, fueled by racism, hate, and white supremacist ideology, drove over 100 miles to specifically target a predominantly Black community in Buffalo, murdering ten innocent people.
As a nation, we must reckon with the truth: That white supremacy, racism and domestic terrorism are being embraced across the country. We’ve seen it in Charleston. We’ve seen it in Pittsburgh. In El Paso. And now in Buffalo—the City of Good Neighbors.
My heart aches for the victims of this horrific act, for their loved ones, and for the entire Buffalo community. And my heart aches for the Black community—in Buffalo and across the country—who once again must contend with extraordinary loss for the simple act of existing.
We have so much work to do.
As a community, to heal. And as elected leaders, to secure some semblance of justice for the families who lost their loved ones. And to enact policies that prevent history from repeating itself—from passing gun safety measures to defeating domestic terrorism.
This will not be easy. It will take time. But I will share with you the same pledge I made to the people of Buffalo today: I will fight every day to make these changes. To honor those who we lost. To take the example of their lives, and bring about meaningful change in their names.
Please join me in sending love, strength, and resolve to the people of Buffalo,
Kirsten
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