The Leadership Conference Statement on the Hate-Motivated Shooting in Jacksonville, Florida

Civil Rights Enforcement News, Fighting Hate & Bias News, Media 08.26,23

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2023
Contact: Eunic Epstein-Ortiz, [email protected]

The Leadership Conference Statement on the Hate-Motivated Shooting in Jacksonville, Florida

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement on the mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida today:

“In the face of yet another heinous act fueled by hatred, our hearts are heavy and our spirits are tested, but our resolve is renewed. Today, as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, we are painfully reminded that everything we do now matters more than ever. We recommit ourselves to the more urgent struggle for justice, equality, and a country that recognizes our humanity. In Jacksonville, Fla., where a community reels from racial violence, we mourn three Black lives. This horrifying incident underscores the urgent need to confront and dismantle dangerous, racist ideologies, as they perpetuate a climate of violence and division that threatens the fabric of our society.

“We mourn the lives lost and offer our deepest condolences to the families and communities affected. This act of violence is not only an attack on the victims, but it is an attack on the principles of a democracy that must be trained in an inclusive and cohesive society where we are all valued for who we are. We continue to work for a country that lives up to its ideals — and that includes a country that values Black lives and everyone’s life.

“Today we mourn with all of the people who said goodbye to loved ones, never imagining that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to hold and hug them again. We send our deepest sympathies and love to them.”

The Leadership Conference Education Fund has tracked the increase in hate crimes during the past four election cycles. The Cause for Concern 2024: The State of Hate report tracks this data, including an increase in anti-Black hate crimes. 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 230 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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