On the recordMay 14, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as we mark the second anniversary of the tragic events that unfolded on May 14, 2022, at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York, it is a solemn reminder of the devastating impact of hate-fueled violence. This is not just an attack on innocent individuals but an assault on the very fabric of the Buffalo community. A self-professed white supremacist targeted the Tops supermarket and drove more than 200 miles to get there because of its location in a predominantly Black community. His actions took 10 precious lives. They were sons, daughters, parents, and friends whose absences continue to be felt deeply. The pain New Yorkers feel is known all too well by us down in South Carolina. In 2015, a white supremacist walked into the Mother Emanuel, the oldest African-American Methodist church in the South. Dylann Roof targeted that church because of its historical significance. He worshipped with them. He prayed with them. He was welcomed into their Bible study with open arms. He repaid that kindness by opening fire on the innocent group of worshippers, killing nine. These horrific acts must serve as a stark reminder of the dangerous consequences of online radicalization, racism, and the all too easy access to weapons of war. The Buffalo shooter's online writings praised Roof's actions. Although he obtained his weapon legally, the shooter made illegal modifications to make it much more deadly.…





