Biden to Host Unity Summit Against Hate-Fueled Violence
It’s pretty easy to see that the United States has been… well, not so united, the past few years, and the Biden administration has taken notice, too. The White House announced that Biden will host a unity summit, The United We Stand Summit, on September 15. The summit will focus on combating hate-fueled violence and the corrosive effects it’s had on society through the lens of public safety and democracy.
Advocates pushed Biden for this event since the mass shooting that took place in Buffalo, specifically targeting Black people, killing 10 and injuring three others. The unity summit is taking place almost exactly four months later.
The United We Stand Summit is a continuation of Biden’s pledge to heal the soul of the nation.
“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. The United We Stand Summit will present an important opportunity for Americans of all races, religions, regions, political affiliations, and walks of life to take up that cause together,’” says Karine Jean-Pierre, Press Secretary.
President Biden will be the keynote speaker for the unity summit, but he has invited a multitude of different folks to speak, including cultural figures, civil rights groups, gun violence prevention advocates, victims of hate-fueled violence, faith leaders, law enforcement, business executives, and former members of violent hate groups. In order to present the unity behind the name of the summit, Biden has also invited democrats and republicans on a federal and local level and other political figures to come together against hate-fueled violence.
The United We Stand Summit is another effort Biden is making to combat hate crimes and white supremacy along with things like the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, but many are getting tired of waiting as attacks against BIPOC communities increase.
“We want policy makers to focus on common sense solutions so we don’t see this type of violence in our communities. And we want to see the implementation of policies that reduce violence,” says Sindy Benavides, CEO of League of United Latin American Citizens.
The summit has a lot in store, and many communities are hoping it leads to policies that incite change.
Photo courtesy of The White House on Facebook
