Buffalo, NY - Mayor Byron W. Brown traveled to Washington, D.C. today to serve as a distinguished participant in the Congressional Black Caucus’ 51st Annual Legislative Conference. Specifically, Mayor Brown took part as a panelist during Senator Cory Booker’s session titled, Community-based Solutions to Enhancing Public Safety: Evidence-based Approaches to Stopping Gun Violence. Senator Booker led a discussion on the importance of community violence intervention efforts to break the cycle of violence in cities across the United States. Mayor Brown focused his remarks on the community-wide impact of the May 14th shooting at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo that killed 10 innocent people and injured three others.
Mayor Brown stated, “It was a real honor to serve on Senator Booker’s panel today as part of the Congressional Black Caucus’ 51st Annual Legislative Conference, which was in person after two years of virtual programming. Since the tragic events of May 14th at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, I’ve been working tirelessly with others to give voice to all of those impacted by this hate-filled act of domestic terrorism. To the victims, survivors, and all of those in our community and beyond, who are coping with the aftermath of gun violence, we will never forget, and I will continue to do everything I can to build bridges and address division.”
The 51st Annual Congressional Black Caucus’ Legislative Conference (ALC) kicked off on Wednesday, September 28 and runs through October 2nd, under the 2022 conference theme, “Advancing our Purpose. Elevating our Power.” This year’s ALC Honorary Co-hosts are Rep. Val Demings and Rep. Steven Horsford. ALC is CBCF’s leading public policy convening on issues impacting African Americans and the global black community. This year’s event returned to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., and will feature over 100 policy sessions and special events hosted by the CBCF, Members of Congress, and sponsors.
Since the tragic events of May 14th in Buffalo, Mayor Brown has attended a variety of gun violence discussions at the local, state, and national level. In addition to Senator Booker’s panel on “Community-based Solutions to Enhancing Public Safety” at this week’s 51st Annual Congressional Black Caucus Meeting, Mayor Brown recently attended President Biden’s “United We Stand” Summit at the White House to counter violent attacks motivated by hate. The Summit was part of a promise Biden made when he came to Buffalo, New York in the aftermath of the May 14th mass shooting at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue. Additionally, Mayor Brown was in New York City last spring when Governor Kathy Hochul signed a number of measures that strengthened gun laws in New York State.
- New York State enacted new gun legislation that included banning anyone under the age of 21 from buying a semi-automatic rifle, strengthening red flag laws and allowing only law enforcement to buy body armor
- The House voted to raise the age for buying semi-automatic rifles to 21 and passed an assault weapon ban late July
- Additionally, New York State made an investment of $50 million for housing and social services to help residents repair their homes and pay their bills
As President Biden said in Buffalo after the horrific mass shooting earlier this year, in the battle for the soul of our nation, “we must all enlist in this great cause of America.” Mayor Brown’s participation on Senator Booker’s panel today continued this effort, as concerned people gathered once again to take up that cause together.