Borough President Diaz Calls for an End to Gun Violence During ‘National Day Of Outrage’

On Monday, November 23, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. called for an end to gun violence during a candlelight vigil in memory of victims of homicides, organized as part of the National Day of Outrage.

Hundreds of residents, elected officials, community leaders, victims and their family members joined Borough President Diaz in an effort to draw attention to the impact of gun violence on the public safety in the Bronx and in the city.

Family members of some of the victims of gun violence joined Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. during the Day of Outrage in The Bronx.

We must show zero tolerance for illegal guns in our streets. We need to put pressure on the federal government to pass stricter gun control laws. Our communities are full of firearms that come from other states where buying a gun is an easy job,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“It is too easy for criminals to get their hands on illegal guns in New York City and it is in communities like the Bronx that innocent citizens have to pay the ultimate price for all the death and destruction that this easy access to firearms causes.  It is time to confront America’s deadly gun culture and start protecting all New Yorkers from firearms at home, at work, and in our communities,” said Colin Weaver, Deputy Executive Director of New York Against Gun Violence.

Borough President Diaz said that the recent incidents occurred in the borough- the shootings of 15 year old Veda Vasquez, 25 year old Aisha Santiago, and 92 year old Sadie Mitchell-need to be a wakeup call to develop strategies to prevent future tragedies.

“The Bronx is tired of the violence, and although the NYPD statistics say that there has been a reduction in crime, thanks to the work of law enforcement, there are still too many killings, too many families grieving their young members, there is still much to be done,” said Borough President Diaz.