President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to vote following the shooting at a July 4th parade at Highland Park, Chicago.
Six people were fatally shot, and more than 30 others were injured during the mass shooting. Hours later, police arrested shooting suspect Robert Crimo.
Biden called for a moment of silence on Tuesday morning, assuring the nation that the community would receive all of the support needed to get through this tragic event.
“There was a shooter, as you well know, in Highland Park in Chicago. I talked to the governor and to the mayor. We’re giving all the help we can possibly give. I just want to keep a slight moment of silence for all those families,” he said.
Shortly after, Biden urged Americans to use their votes to help tackle America’s gun violence epidemic.
“You all heard what happened. You all heard what happened today. But each day we’re reminded there’s nothing guaranteed about our democracy. Nothing guaranteed about our way of life. We have to fight for it, defend it and earn it by voting,” he said.
According to CBS News, Crimo is a business owner who “ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Highland park in 2019.” The suspect is also an aspiring rapper who goes by the moniker Awake the Rapper.
Halfway through 2022, the U.S. has seen 309 mass shootings. Eleven took place over the holiday weekend.
Last month, Biden signed into law a bipartisan measure to address gun violence after the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
“Today, we say more than enough. We say more than enough,” Biden said at the White House at the time. “At a time when it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential.”
