Brian Higgins: “This past weekend, my community of Buffalo, New York, was ravaged by an act of domestic terror. A white supremacist used…”

“This past weekend, my community of Buffalo, New York, was ravaged by an act of domestic terror. A white supremacist used a weapon of mass destruction to brutally murder 10 Black people who were just going about their business at the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue. Three others were wounded. The victims were ages 32 through 86. They were mothers and grandmothers. They were fathers and grandfathers. They were young adults. They were good people of faith, a retired teacher, and a retired police officer. This premeditated act was planned to be broadcast to the world on social media showcasing this massacre as the playing out of a vile racist fantasy. I rise today with my colleagues to honor those who have been lost. To honor them and to help heal our broken community, I urge all of my colleagues to think about what we can do to fight hate. We have the power, through our words and our votes, to promote civility, tolerance, and kindness. And we have the choice to do better and to work together to fight the evil that exists around us and throughout the world. Today, we bow our heads in silence, but tomorrow--tomorrow--we raise our voices loudly against hate. The SPEAKER. The Chair asks all Members in the Chamber, as well as Members and staff throughout the Capitol, to rise for a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the recent shooting in Buffalo, New York. ____________________”