President Joe Biden is urging America to reject white supremacy after a white gunman killed three black people in Florida over the weekend in what authorities believe was a racially motivated attack.
The shooter, a white male in his twenties, targeted black individuals at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, killing three before taking his own life.
In a statement, President Biden said, “Even as we continue searching for answers, we must say clearly and forcefully that white supremacy has no place in America.” He added, “We must refuse to live in a country where black families going to the store or black students going to school live in fear of being gunned down because of the color of their skin. Hate must have no safe harbor. Silence is complicity, and we must not remain silent.”
The victims of the shooting were identified as 19-year-old A.J. Laguerre, 29-year-old Jerrald Gallion, and 52-year-old Michelle Carr.
Authorities confirmed that the gunman, Ryan Palmeter, was motivated by his racist beliefs, as evidenced by manifestos he left behind.
President Biden also highlighted that the shooting took place on the 60th anniversary of the historic 1963 March on Washington, which aimed to end discrimination.
He stated, “But this day of remembrance and commemoration ended with yet another American community wounded by an act of gun violence, reportedly fueled by hate-filled animus and carried out with two firearms.”
Federal officials have opened a civil rights investigation and are treating the incident as a possible hate crime.
