Gabby Giffords remembers the victims and survivors of the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York

WASHINGTON — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, recognized the 10 lives lost and the three more who were injured during a hate-motivated shooting in Buffalo, New York, three years ago. Black communities, who are disproportionately impacted by gun violence, are also the most likely to be the victim of a violent hate crime attack.

“Three years ago, 10 families lost loved ones and an entire community was torn apart by a single armed man,” said former Congresswoman Giffords. “Racist violence fueled by hate has cost too many innocent lives in our country. Acts like these have far-reaching impacts, and must never be tolerated by any of us. My heart goes out to those who were lost and those still struggling with the aftermath of that terrible day.”

In response to the shooting, GIFFORDS Law Center filed a lawsuit against three members of the gun industry for being negligent, using false advertising, and deceptive conduct when selling the shooter the products he used to carry out the attack.  The lawsuit also seeks to hold accountable the social media companies whose products radicalized the shooter into a violent white supremacist. That radicalization was a consequence of platforms the companies designed to maximize user engagement and advertising revenue at the expense of public safety.