Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

Like you, I was struck to the core over the weekend by the atrocity that occurred in Orlando, Florida. It was a stark and tragic reminder of how intolerance, combined with violence, can strike at our fellow Americans as well as the ideals we hold sacred. 

Senseless acts of violence such as this occur far too frequently in our country. Broken gun laws and gaping loopholes allow powerful weapons into the hands of unstable and hateful individuals. But this tragedy strikes at us even more here in New York, during the month of June, where so many of the LGBTQ community are celebrating pride, celebrating, in essence, in who they are. This attack was an attack on a community too familiar with violence and intolerance. It allows an ugly history to come roaring back into the public psyche after recent gains had helped put some of it into the rear-view.

I want to welcome you to join a vigil uptown this evening, led by Senator Adriano Espaillat, as our community comes together to grieve and mourn those lost in Orlando due to hate. We will reflect deeply on the impacts of this tragedy and how we can arrive at a place of greater strength, unity and acceptance going forward. It will also be a moment to rally support for true action at the federal level on gun control measures to strengthen our hand against those who would use a gun for violence.

Please help to circulate this to all those interested in attending.  Thank you and I hope to see you there,

 

Ydanis Rodriguez

Council Member,

Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill