Kenyatta’s statement regarding mass shooting in North Philadelphia

 State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., release the following statement after a violent weekend in North Philadelphia’s Hartranft neighborhood:

“Once again, what should have been a joyful community celebration in Hartranft ended in tragedy, and my heart is heavy. Too many lives in our city have been cut short by gun violence, leaving families and neighborhoods mourning. As someone who calls North Philly home, I’ve seen both the strength of our communities, and the deep pain violence leaves behind. While we’ve made progress, we can’t be satisfied. There’s still so much work to do to ensure safety for everyone.

“We must care for each other. When conflict arises, we must meet it with empathy and understanding—not with violence. Too often, social media turns small disagreements into something much bigger. We are stronger than that, and violence cannot be the way we respond.

“I’m thinking of those injured over the weekend and sending my deepest wishes for their recovery, both physically and emotionally. Now is the time for us to come together to focus on what unites us as a community so we can all live with the safety, peace and hope that we deserve.”