The news of the mass shooting on May 14, 2022 at a grocery store in Buffalo continues to weigh on all of us, especially as we consider that the shooter drove through our communities to reach his destination.
White supremacy has seeped into every facet of our society. Our country was founded on the backs of Black and Indigenous bodies, and the belief system that made that possible is alive and well in 2022. The young man that drove from his home in Broome County with a military-grade rifle was likely radicalized by a steady stream of racism, both on-line and in person.
From our vantage point, white supremacy must be rooted out through education and public policy related to health care, incarceration and policing reform, environmental justice, workforce, housing, and so much more.
We will be working with statewide networks on immediate grantmaking to combat white supremacy in New York. We are grateful that work was already in process, so we can act quickly in the aftermath of this recent violence.
In conversation with area leaders from all walks of life, we are also learning what our community needs to feel safe and supported. From healing circles to large-scale protests, we see your grief and share your vision for a world free from racist violence.
In solidarity with our neighbors in Buffalo, we continue to affirm that Black Lives Matter.