August 29,2023

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San Diego, California – The Haitian Bridge Alliance mourns with the Jacksonville community following the tragic killings of three Black people on August 26, 2023, at a Dollar General Store. 

According to official reports, the murderer, 21-year-old Ryan Christopher Palmeter, who was known for his deep hatred toward Black people, first attempted to enter Edward Waters University, a historically Black college, then drove to the Dollar General store armed with an assault weapon adorned with swastikas and proceeded to take the lives of Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., 19, and Jerrald Gallion, 29. 

Guerline Jozef, Founder and Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, Co-Founder of the Cameroon Advocacy Network, and Co-Founder of the Black Immigrants Bail Fund issued the following statement:  

“Faced with these horrifying acts of terror, it is imperative that we address these atrocities through comprehensive gun reform and dismantle the systematic anti-Black racism, hate violence, and terrorism against the Black community that are ingrained in the very fabric of our nation for far too long. Now more than ever we must all push against the divisive rhetoric and reunite our community to fight against white supremacist ideologies.”

Regrettably, these racially motivated shootings and mass murders are all too common in our nation. In 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognized domestic terrorism and white supremacy as threats to our democracy. Emmett Till was killed 68 years ago yesterday and we cannot allow such tragedies to continue unchecked. It is our collective responsibility, including the United States Congress, and governors to take immediate and concrete actions and protect our communities, to protect Black Lives and fight against hate and bigotry.

Our deepest condolences go out to the families of Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., 19, and Jerrald Gallion, 29 and all those of us affected by this senseless act of terrorism.