Joint House Democratic Leadership Statement on Shooting in Jacksonville

Statement

"The racist shooting in Jacksonville is the inevitable consequence of reckless public officials who coddle right-wing extremists, whitewash painful parts of our history and flood our communities with weapons of war.

Hate crimes, antisemitic attacks and anti-Asian violence are on the rise. Neo-Nazis are armed to the teeth and marching in our streets. No one in America is safe unless everyone is safe.

Elected officials and presidential candidates who peddle poisonous attacks on our diverse society, target historically vulnerable groups, ban books and minimize the pain caused by organized terrorists like the KKK are recklessly fanning the flames of racial hatred. They must cease and desist their dangerous actions immediately.

Thoughts and prayers are not enough.

Upon returning to Congress in early September, House Democrats will continue to vigorously push commonsense gun safety measures designed to combat the gun violence epidemic. Our Republican colleagues can either join us or be complicit in the carnage.

We urge the Department of Justice to aggressively investigate violent extremists in our society and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. This is an all hands on deck moment. Sixty years after the March on Washington, our work is far from over."

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