Statement On Lunar New Year Shooting From BBT Executive Director Danielle Melfi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2023
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

STATEMENT ON LUNAR NEW YEAR SHOOTING FROM BBT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANIELLE MELFI

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Building Back Together Executive Director Danielle Melfi released the following statement after a mass shooting during a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California:

“We grieve this devastating loss for the Monterey Park community, one of the largest and most vibrant Asian American communities in the United States. For this horrific and senseless attack to occur during the Lunar New Year festival makes it all the more painful. This attack has left a community shattered, families broken, and at least ten lives lost – with their hopes for the coming year, and countless years after, gone with them.

“The rise in gun violence and violence against Asian Americans we have seen in recent years is unacceptable. President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to take action to address these crises, including through the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and pushing for an assault weapons ban, but it is on all of us to stand with the AANHPI community and take action to reduce gun violence.”

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