16 May MCJ Responds to Deadly Mass Shooting Against Black Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2022
Contact: Nikita Sibley, nsibley@rabengroup.com, 850-345-7092
Mississippi Center For Justice Responds to Deadly Mass Shooting Against Black Community
Jackson, MS— Vangela M. Wade, president and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Justice, issued the following statement in response to a mass shooting in Buffalo, NY that targeted the Black community, leaving 10 people dead and three injured. The shooter published a manifesto online before the attack, identifying himself as a white supremacist and racist.
“I am heartbroken and outraged by the racist attacks in Buffalo this weekend. This shooting and similar racialized mass shootings in El Paso, Atlanta, and Charleston illustrate the constant dangers that communities of color face. We cannot feel safe in a grocery store, a place of worship, a nail salon, a movie theater, or even in the comfort of our own home. For us, all of these places are hunting grounds.
“Sadly, this shooting offers yet another painful reminder of the growing influence and violence of white supremacy in this country. Over the past few years, extremist white supremacist groups have proliferated and grown more vocal, fueled by some political leaders who use hatred to bolster their power. This bigotry has manifested itself in so many harmful ways, from efforts to erase the reality of our country’s racist history from education to the January 6th insurrection to this weekend’s shooting of innocent people in their community grocery store.
“We need to use every tool at our disposal to root out white supremacy borne of hate at its core. All Americans must speak out against racism. Leaders from across our country’s diverse spectrum – whether politicians, social justice activists, Corporate America, and the entertainment industry – need to openly condemn white supremacy in all its forms and work to implement policies to stop its impact on our communities. And social media platforms must take accountability for the dangerous content they allow to proliferate on their websites.
“Racism has no place in our country. Our condolences are with the victims’ families and loved ones. As we look ahead, we will continue to fight tooth and nail to dismantle Mississippi’s systemic racism and chart a better tomorrow.”
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The Mississippi Center for Justice is dedicated to dismantling the state’s culture of inequity and injustice. Support and staffed by attorneys and other professionals, the Center pursues strategies to combat discrimination and poverty statewide.