NCBW Statement on Shootings in Jacksonville
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For Further Information Contact: Alfreda Stukes
nationalexecutiveadmin@nc100bw.org
Primary: 404-390-3982
Statement in Response to the Racially Motivated Shootings in Jacksonville, Florida
Atlanta, GA, August 29, 2023 – Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the 3 Black people who were brutally gunned down by a 21-year-old white man while shopping in a Jacksonville, Florida store. This was a pure act of hate. All signs indicate the shooter knew what he was doing by what he wrote in a manifesto he left behind.
This horrific tragedy comes on the heels of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, which was one of the most significant racial justice and equality demonstrations in this country.While we have come a long way since Martin Luther King, Jr., made his historic speech, decades later, white extremists continue to target Black people purely because of the color of their skin.
This horrific shooting comes at a time when hate crimes in the US have significantly increased over the past several years, with the largest number motivated by bias against Black people. The white hate groups and racists are becoming emboldened. It’s extremely important that law enforcement officials closely monitor and enforce civil rights violations and fully prosecute hate crimes.
Elected officials must also show a sense of urgency to pass common sense gun legislation to make it tougher for questionable people, like the shooter, to purchase guns.
“The shooter’s ideology of hate should be of great concern to everyone. We must take racially motivated hate crimes seriously. Hate crimes must be a top priority for federal and state law enforcement officials. As a society, we must continue to fight hate, and stand up to promote tolerance and inclusion,” said NCBW National First Vice President Minnie Miller.
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The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Incorporated is a 40-year-old advocacy organization whose vision is that black women and girls will live in a world where socio-economic inequity does not exist. Thus, we advocate on behalf of black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment. As a voice for millions of black women and girls in the United States, the Coalition believes in inclusion, respect, racial and social justice, integrity, accountability, and collaboration. For more information, visit the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. at www.ncbw.org.
We operate as a non-profit organization exclusively for charitable, educational, and social purposes and, are organized for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954.
