STATEMENT FROM BUILDING BACK TOGETHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANIELLE MELFI ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S VISIT TO BUFFALO, NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2022
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

STATEMENT FROM BUILDING BACK TOGETHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANIELLE MELFI ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S VISIT TO BUFFALO, NY

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, after President Biden met with victims’ families, law enforcement, first responders, and community leaders, following the racially-motivated mass shooting in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York that claimed the lives of ten people and injured three others, Building Back Together Executive Director Danielle Melfi released the following statement:

“Today, President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden grieved with members of the Buffalo community who are suffering because of a horrific act of hate-fueled violence and terrorism. We condemn the scourge of racist, antisemitic, and hateful violence that we have seen claim too many lives across the country, and that represents the very worst of our nation. America is at our weakest when we give in to hateful and false ideology that seeks to divide, not unite us.

“President Biden believes attacks like this one are antithetical to who we are as a nation, and he is committed to leading us towards a future where everyone can shop at their local grocery store, visit a small business, and gather at their house of worship without fear of being gunned down. Our hearts go out to the community and families who have been affected by this senseless tragedy. As we redouble our efforts to prevent future gun violence and combat hate, we recognize the work of the many Black-led, gun violence prevention, and civil rights organizations who have been on-the-ground fighting for decades in local communities to make this vision of our nation a reality. We stand with them as we fight to ensure hate and racism have no safe harbor in America.”

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