Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams issued the following statement after another spike in gun violence in New York City this weekend, including the killing of a one year old child in Brooklyn.
"The violence and loss that our city has seen in the last several weeks, in the last several hours, is devastating, and can leave us at a loss ourselves for how to respond and advance peace. I pray for the victims of this epidemic of gun violence, and for the families facing unimaginable pain in this moment, but I know that prayers alone are not sufficient without action.
"We cannot grow numb to the headlines on our screens or the violence in our streets. This cannot be considered normal, in our city or anywhere. It must shock us, and shock us into action that stems both the supply of guns into our communities and the many factors that lead to violence. To the people who say law enforcement is the only solution - you are wrong. To the people who say law enforcement has no role - you are wrong. We need to come together with increased commitment to the community-driven strategies we know can work and are essential to ending this senseless violence and heartbreaking loss."
