Vice President Harris on Buffalo shooting: ‘We are seeing an epidemic of hate’

Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the weekend’s mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, drawing a correlation to racist attacks in other parts of the country.

“Law enforcement is proceeding with its investigation, but what is clear is that we are seeing an epidemic of hate across our country that has been evidenced by acts of violence and intolerance,” Harris said Sunday in a statement. “We must call it out and condemn it,” Harris added. “Racially-motivated hate crimes or acts of violent extremism are harms against all of us.”

Harris concluded her speech by saying she and her husband would pray for the victims. “Today our hearts are broken and we grieve for the victims of the horrific act of gun violence in Buffalo and for their families and friends. The second gentleman and I are praying for all those who knew and lost loved ones,” Harris said.

President Biden echoed her sentiments on Sunday and said that the country must work together to eliminate the “hate that remains a stain on the soul of America.”

“A lone gunman, armed with weapons of war and a hate-filled soul, shot and killed 10 innocent people in cold blood,” Biden said during an event honoring law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

Ten people were killed in the Saturday attack on Tops Friendly Market, a grocery store in Buffalo. Eleven of the 13 people who were shot were Black, police confirmed.

Officials are investigating whether the shooter, identified as 18-year-old Payton Gendron, intentionally targeted the Black community. Officials are also investigating a 180-page manifesto allegedly written by Gendron.

“This is an absolute racist hate crime. It will prosecuted as a hate crime,” Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said Sunday.