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(Statement) Amara Enyia Statement on Synagogue Shooting/Gun Violence

CHICAGO (October 30, 2018) – “Eleven people were killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Over this same weekend, 43 people were shot in Chicago – five fatally. Two African Americans in Kentucky were killed at a grocery store by a deranged shooter who had attempted to enter a Black Baptist church minutes earlier.

For far too long, those in marginalized communities have been faced with the specter of not knowing if it is safe to go to a park, to a school, to a nightclub and even a place of worship. We need strong leadership committed to addressing the root causes of violence. We need to expand beyond a focus on gun legislation and address mental health issues and make an investment in initiatives that build strong communities.

President Trump today is visiting the survivors in Pittsburgh. While being a member of a targeted religious minority is reason enough for the President to finally care about this issue, there are too many examples of violence against other vulnerable citizens that have been ignored. We can no longer be silent. Whether it is a mass shooting in the name of religious hatred or a single teenager shot 16 times, no community can afford these continued tragedies.”

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