American Rivers Statement on Mass Shootings and Racially Motivated Violent Extremism

May 16, 2022  

Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145  

In response to the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, Tom Kiernan, President of American Rivers, made the following statement:  

We adamantly condemn yesterday’s racist attack targeting Buffalo, New York’s Black community. An 18-year-old white supremacist shot and killed 10 people and injured three others in this horrific mass shooting.  

American Rivers envisions a future of clean water and healthy rivers for everyone, everywhere. To achieve our vision, we must center equity and justice in all aspects of our work. We cannot remain silent about acts of racially motivated violence. Black Americans are the leading targets for hate crimes in our country. Anti-Semitic attacks, as well as violence against the Latino, Asian, Muslim, and LGBTQ+ communities are also on the rise.  

We recognize that, to be successful in our mission, we must remain connected to the communities we serve. That means calling out injustice, naming the harm inflicted by racially motivated hate crimes. 

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