October 29, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NBCSL Statement on Kentucky Kroger Shooting and Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre

Washington DC —National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) President and Indiana State Representative Gregory W. Porter issued the following statement in response to news of the shooting of two people at a Kroger grocery store near Louisville, KY, on Wednesday, October 24, and a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 27.

Representative Gregory W. Porter:

“NBCSL extends its heartfelt condolences to the family members and friends of the two citizens who were gunned down at a Kroger grocery story in Jeffersontown, KY, last Wednesday, and the 11 men and women who lost their lives at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. All of them died at the hands of someone motivated by hate. In Pittsburgh, the gunman repeatedly professed to hating Jews and then committed this evil, cowardly act during a worship service. In Kentucky, the shooter allegedly tried to enter another house of worship—a nearby predominantly Black church—before opening fire at the grocery store.

“When is enough enough? From the horrendous shootings and serial bomber last week, to the deadly stabbing at Oakland’s MacArthur BART station this past summer, to the murderous attack at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston a few years ago, to the deplorable and sickening protests in Charlottesville last year– our country has seen and experienced tragedy after tragedy—heartbreak after heartbreak—occur when hatred and bigotry are emboldened.

“We all must come to grips with the fact that we are in a crisis in America. We are seeing too many incidents of mass shootings and violence directed toward racial and religious groups. We must recognize the realities of hatred in our society and agree that any and all acts of hatred, from hate speech of any kind to graffiti written on churches and synagogues, have no place in our society. Such acts just fuel even more violence. Our nation must regain its moral compass and come together to mitigate this scourge that is upon our land.  NBCSL will continue to work with organizations striving to end the hate and violence that is tearing apart families, causing hurt, and unquantifiable grief in our country.”