The National Health Law Program is heartbroken, disgusted, and enraged by the atrocious shooting carried out by a white supremacist at a Dollar General store in New Town, a predominantly Black neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, August 26th. We grieve with the loved ones and communities of the three people killed (Angela Michelle Carr, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., and Jerrald Gallion), all of whom were Black. We call attention to the dangers of Florida’s education policies. Whitewashing and undermining the real history of slavery and government-sanctioned discrimination against Black People, as well as prohibiting discussions on the Black Lives Matter movement, have only fueled anti-Black racism and hostility in the state. And we refuse to accept our current reality in America, in which gun violence motivated by racism and hate continues to terrorize our communities.
As advocates for health equity, we reaffirm that gun violence and white supremacy are public health crises that disproportionately harm the health and wellbeing of Black communities.
At NHeLP, we remain committed to doing our part to end white supremacy, racism, and hate. As advocates for health equity, we reaffirm that gun violence and white supremacy are public health crises that disproportionately harm the health and wellbeing of Black communities. We call on federal and state lawmakers to invest in meaningful policy solutions to end racial hatred and gun violence. NHeLP stands in solidarity with the City of Jacksonville and New Town residents in demanding action because Black Lives Matter.
