ST. PAUL, Minn. — The House People of Color and Indigenous Caucus issue the following statement:
“We are profoundly devasted and horrified by the gun violence that has stricken our South Minneapolis community. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families who are grieving, to the children who have witnessed unimaginable trauma, and to every neighbor who feels the weight of this tragedy. No family should have to endure the devastating loss of a loved one to gun violence, and no community should have to live in fear.
“As students across Minnesota return to school, their only focus should be on learning, not the threat of potential violence. The epidemic of gun violence continues to wreak havoc on our neighborhoods, and we have to offer our community more than simple platitudes. We need tangible solutions and the political courage to act. We will not accept this as ‘normal’ and will not continue to turn a blind eye to an obvious issue affecting our state and nation. We are calling for a united response to condemn gun violence. We will stand in solidarity with our community until real change comes.”