STATEMENT: AAPI Victory Alliance Mourns the Lives Lost Around the Country and Calls for Legislative Action to End Gun Violence

WASHINGTON – This past weekend, a gunman traveled to a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York and committed  the deadliest mass shooting of 2022. This horrible, preventable tragedy highlights the pressing need for congressional action to end gun violence. The U.S. has experienced 198 mass shootings this year alone; Americans need Congress to step up and help the Biden Administration pass gun control legislation to end gun violence now. 

AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement:

“Today, we mourn the lives lost this past weekend in Buffalo, Milwaukee, Laguna Woods, and Houston. Many of the recent mass shootings have happened in predominantly minority communities. Gun violence disproportionately affects communities of color; racial justice and gun violence prevention are inextricably linked. Americans, particularly communities of color, live everyday in fear of a life and death issue that could be solved via action by our government. The tragic events this past weekend remind us that our liberations are tied; at this moment it’s imperative that we come together in solidarity to combat white supremacy and right-wing extremists. We need Congress to step up now to work with the Biden Administration and end this preventable violence.”

 “While steps the Biden Administration has taken to eliminate gun violence have given us hope, it’s become clear that those actions alone are not enough. We are calling on Congress and President Biden to band together and take stronger action against gun violence.” 

 “Today, we remember the lives lost and demand better. We refuse to allow more lives to be lost to preventable violence. We will fight for stricter gun violence prevention legislation until everyone is safe.”

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AAPI Victory Alliance works to build Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) political power across the country by providing education on progressive issues; creating and advocating for policies that affect our communities; and building alliances with organizations to help AAPIs exert their power and be the margin of victory at the local, state, and national levels.