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[Para ver la versión en español visite aquí).
Dear Neighbors,
Once again, we find ourselves mourning the loss of lives due to a mass shooting.
Our communities can not continue to withstand so much devastation. This week we lost at least 21 people, 19 of which were children, to senseless gun violence at an elementary school in Texas. The attack in the predominantly Latino town was the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. The tragedy was the latest in a seemingly unending string of mass killings at churches, schools, stores, and other sites in the U.S. Just ten days earlier, ten Black people were shot to death in a racist rampage at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket.
When will this end?
It is evil for someone to gun down children; it is unacceptable to continue to look the other way and not step up to promote policies that would prohibit these shootings from continuing. Texas has some of the most gun-friendly laws in the nation and has been the site of some of the deadliest shootings in the U.S. over the past five years. Gun dealers are getting away with selling ghost guns online to anyone regardless of age or past mental or criminal history. Then you have these iron pipelines that flood our urban cities with illegal weapons sold and bought in other states with lax gun laws. Repeated attempts over the years to expand background checks and enact further curbs have run into Republican opposition in Congress.
It is time for this nation’s leaders to step up and stand up to the gun lobby and enact stricter restrictions. Now more than ever is time to take bold action to prevent the senseless loss of more lives. We must end the idolatry of guns in this country. In the meantime, I am working hard to push and support state legislation that will protect New York State from further gun violence. Further down in this update you will find details for a community vigil and action event in response to gun violence scheduled for Friday, June 3rd.
This weekend we honor our military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. Many Americans will celebrate Memorial Day weekend with family and friends over a nice barbecue. Weather permitting, others will take time to enjoy our New York City public beaches that will officially reopen for swimming this weekend. On Memorial Day at 11 am, there is a parade marching from Dyckman Street & Broadway to the flagpole at Inwood Hill Park honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. military.
I invite you to please continue reading this weekly update for information about valuable resources and don't forget to scroll to the end to see our community updates. I encourage everyone to enjoy the long weekend and to stay safe.
Peace & blessings,
RJ
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