RI Commission on Prejudice & Bias Issues Statement on Dayton & El Paso Shootings
GoLocalProv News Team
RI Commission on Prejudice & Bias Issues Statement on Dayton & El Paso Shootings
As GoLocalProv reported, in Dayton, at least nine people were killed and 16 others injured by a shooter in a popular entertainment district, police said early Sunday.
As GoLocalProv also reported, a gunman killed 20 and wounded 26 others at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.
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The Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias is outraged by the attacks in Dayton and El Paso this past weekend, where innocent people were killed and wounded by acts of hate, simply because they were living their lives. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.
Bigotry and violence have no place in our country. Yet, we know, many people are getting just the opposite message.
Unfortunately, we fear the actions of this past weekend will not end unless messages of hatred stop from top levels of our own government on down. It is not only children listening, but adults with guns.
The Commission calls on our nation's leaders to condemn all hate attacks. We call on them to make it a priority to provide positive leadership in denouncing all forms of violence, hate, and bigotry. We also call on them to bring communities together as one people to promote civility and tolerance.
The Commission asks Rhode Island residents continue to remind individuals that we will not, as a community, accept violence. We encourage everyone to respect each other's cultures, ethnicities, and beliefs. Removing the environment of hate is no easy matter. But, all Rhode Islanders must continue to work to reduce all forms of prejudice and bias.
We have the opportunity in Rhode Island to lead our nation in significantly increasing civility and tolerance for others. The Commission urges all of us, including community leaders, to meet with our neighbors and discuss conflicts. We also urge dialogue with our law enforcement officials to create change in a proactive and positive manner. Finally, we call on our elected officials in the state to work diligently in providing a safe and secure Rhode Island by taking the appropriate action to reduce gun violence.
Like El Paso, Dayton, California, and Pittsburgh, Rhode Island is not immune to acts of physical and mortal violence that can lead to the tragic ending of life and wounding of innocent people.