In the wake of a tragic event that unfolded in Jacksonville, Florida, President Joe Biden has unequivocally expressed his stern disapproval of white supremacy. The incident saw a white male assailant fatally shooting two Black men and a Black woman, subsequently taking his own life. The assailant had been turned away from a historically Black college or university (HBCU) campus just moments before perpetrating the shooting at a discount store.
Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, issued a resolute rebuke of the assailant, labeling him a “hateful lunatic,” while vowing to shield HBCUs from being subjected to such targeted acts of violence.
The FBI has initiated an investigation into the shooting, classifying it as a hate crime due to evidence pointing to a racially motivated attack. Community leaders have echoed their profound distress at the incident.
Armed with a high-powered rifle and a handgun, and donning a tactical vest and mask, the assailant entered the Dollar General store shortly before 2pm on Saturday. He proceeded to fatally shoot two men and a woman, all of whom were Black. The assailant, identified as Ryan Christopher Palmeter, 21, was captured on video shooting one victim in a vehicle outside the store. He then entered the store to commit the rest of the shootings before ending his own life.
The Jacksonville sheriff, TK Waters, named the victims and disclosed that Palmeter had purchased his firearms legally and had no prior criminal record. Despite having undergone involuntary commitment for a mental health assessment in 2017, Palmeter managed to purchase the weapons due to a gap in background checks.
Waters expressed his belief that the assailant harbored a deep-seated hatred towards Black individuals, substantiated by the presence of several manifestos left behind. Waters deemed these manifestos as a testament to the assailant’s irrationality yet emphasized that he exhibited lucidity in his actions.
Of particular significance, Palmeter had been spotted near Edward Waters University (EWU), an HBCU, just prior to the attack. His refusal to identify himself led to security questioning him, and he was subsequently turned away. This incident was reported to law enforcement, highlighting the potential for the assailant’s intended violence to have extended to the campus.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, President Biden, a moderate Democrat, released a statement vehemently asserting that white supremacy has no place in the United States. The president also linked the incident to a massive demonstration in Washington DC, marking the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, underscoring the ongoing struggle against hatred and bigo