FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2023
CONTACT
Jonny Levenfeld, West End Strategy Team
jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com, (202) 704-4535
Interfaith Leaders Mourn Jacksonville Victims, Demand Action Against Violent White Supremacy
WASHINGTON—After a white supremacist in Jacksonville shot and killed three Black people in what authorities are describing as a racist attack, national and Florida-based interfaith leaders are grieving for those impacted and imploring elected leaders to take action against the machinery of hate that enables these heinous crimes. Interfaith Alliance and Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida issued the following joint statement:
“We are mourning the precious lives lost this weekend to violent white supremacy, on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington no less. Unfettered access to guns, paired with the continuing normalization of white supremacy and extremism, has paved the way for yet another devastating racially-motivated mass shooting.
“Armed with a military grade weapon covered in swastikas, the shooter deliberately targeted Black lives. Until our leaders act swiftly and deliberately against the scourge of racial violence and white nationalism that continues to plague this country, atrocities like this will continue to happen. Condemnations aren’t enough — we demand action.”
If you are interested in speaking further with representatives from Interfaith Alliance or Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida, please contact Jonny Levenfeld at (202) 704-4535 or jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com.
Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.