Joe Biden calls for unity to eradicate the "hate that remains a stain on the soul" of the United States

Joe Biden Calls For Unity To Eradicate The “hate That Remains a Stain On The Soul” Of The United States

Washington — President Joe Biden called for unity Sunday to address the “hatred that remains a stain on America’s soul” following a mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket, while state officials called for action by federal level to end the “uniquely American phenomenon” of mass shootings.

At an annual police ceremony on Capitol Hill, Biden said he and his wife, Jill, pray for those who were shot “by a lone gunman, carrying weapons of war and a soul filled with hate,” and for their families.

Authorities say an 18-year-old white man in military clothing opened fire on customers and workers at the grocery store Saturday, killing 10 people, including a retired Buffalo police officer, and wounding three others. Most of the victims were black.

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Law enforcement officials said Sunday that the shooter had researched the local demographics looking for places with high concentrations of black people.

“We must all work together to address the hate that remains a stain on America’s soul,” Biden declared at the 41st National Peace Officers Memorial Service honoring police officers who have fallen in the line of duty. . “Our hearts are heavy again, but determination must never, never waver.”

“No one understands this better than the people sitting across from me,” he added. The White House announced that the Bidens will travel to Buffalo on Tuesday to mourn the community.

Authorities identified the shooter as 18-year-old Payton Gendron. (Mark Mulville)

The 18-year-old white teenager was wearing military gear and broadcast live on the Internet with a camera on his helmet.

The 18-year-old white teenager was wearing military gear and broadcast live on the Internet with a camera on his helmet. (Matt Rourke)

Authorities described the attack as

Authorities described the attack as “racially motivated violent extremism.” (Matt Rourke)

The teen shot 11 black people and two white people before turning himself in to officers.

The teen shot 11 black people and two white people before turning himself in to officers. (Joshua Bessex)

The massacre sent shock waves through a country wracked by racial tensions, gun violence and a string of hate crimes.

The massacre sent shock waves through a country wracked by racial tensions, gun violence and a string of hate crimes. (Joshua Bessex)

The events in Buffalo came just a month after another attack left 10 people injured on a Brooklyn subway train.

The events in Buffalo came just a month after another attack left 10 people injured on a Brooklyn subway train. (Joshua Bessex)

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown takes a moment of silence and prayer for the victims of the shooting.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown takes a moment of silence and prayer for the victims of the shooting. (Joshua Bessex)

The assailant shot four people outside the establishment, three of whom died.

The assailant shot four people outside the establishment, three of whom died. (Matt Rourke)

The assailant wore a bulletproof vest and military-style clothing during the attack on Tops Friendly Market.

The assailant wore a bulletproof vest and military-style clothing during the attack on Tops Friendly Market. (Mark Mulville)

Inside the store, a security guard fired several shots, but a bullet that hit the attacker's bulletproof vest had no effect.

Inside the store, a security guard fired several shots, but a bullet that hit the attacker’s bulletproof vest had no effect. (Matt Rourke)

Police entered the establishment and confronted the assailant in the lobby.

Police entered the establishment and confronted the assailant in the lobby. (Joshua Bessex)

Authorities blocked traffic around the supermarket in Buffalo.

Authorities blocked traffic around the supermarket in Buffalo. (Derek Gee)

Twitch said in a statement that it cut off Gendron's stream

Twitch said in a statement that it cut off Gendron’s stream “less than two minutes after his act of violence began.” (Joshua Bessex)

The rifle Gendron used was purchased legally, but the magazines he put in the gun were not allowed for sale in New York.

The rifle Gendron used was purchased legally, but the magazines he put in the gun were not allowed for sale in New York. (Matt Rourke)

President Joe Biden said in a statement that he and the former were praying for the victims and their families.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that he and the former were praying for the victims and their families. (Joshua Bessex)

Speaking at the ceremony for the second time as president, Biden did not address calls from New York officials — Governor Kathy Hochul and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown — for strong federal action to end what Brown said is the “uniquely American phenomenon” of mass shootings.

The president also did not mention the initiatives for arms control that have stalled in Washington.

Brown expressed frustration that after every mass shooting “thoughts and prayers” and promises to act are offered, only to be blocked by “some from one party.”

“There seem to be those who believe that owning a gun is more valuable than the sacredness of human life,” the mayor said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “So I think people across the country have to make themselves heard. They need to speak louder and clearer that there should be gun control in this country. This is a uniquely American phenomenon. These mass shootings don’t happen in other countries around the world.”

Brown said he would like to see “sensible gun control.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, declared that stricter measures on gun control are “a great priority” for the Democrats and the White House. He lamented the difficulties in advancing this type of legislation due to the need for 60 votes in the Senate, which is split 50/50, but promised on CNN’s “State of the Union” that “we will not leave until the job is done.”

Hochul said most of the illegal guns used on the streets of his cities come from out of state. “We need a national response,” he told NBC.

“We have to get other states to step up. We need the federal government on our side,” said Hochul, a Buffalo native.

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