Statement on Mass Shootings in Buffalo, NY, and Laguna Woods, CA

NEW YORK — From DeAnna Hoskins, President and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA): “The hearts of all of us in JustLeadershipUSA go out to the families of the victims of the mass shootings this weekend in Buffalo, NY, and Laguna Woods, CA. Eleven of the 13 people who were shot at the supermarket shooting in Buffalo were Black. All of the shooting victims of the ‘politically motivated’ church shooting in California were Asian.

“One person was killed and five others were injured at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in a shooting committed by a Chinese-American who specifically targeted Taiwanese people. In Buffalo, an 18-year-old white nationalist drove three hours to intentionally target a supermarket in a predominantly Black community. The racial/ethnic aspect of these crimes cannot be ignored.

“Like Kendrick Lamar sings on his new album, ‘I grieve differently.’ As people of color—especially those of us who are directly impacted by the criminal legal system—when we hear about these tragedies, we grieve differently. Much more will be said in the coming days about both of these mass shootings, but for now we join with our siblings in these communities in grief and the demand for real justice.”

Contact: Stephen Roach Knight, stephen@jlusa.org / jlusa@ellecomm.com