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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Roseann R. Cadau |
State Rep. Thaddeus
Kirkland |
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Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus outraged over lynching sign at pro-gun rally
HARRISBURG, April 24 – State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware, chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, said caucus members are enraged over a prejudicial sign displayed by some firearm owners at the Capitol today because of a fellow state lawmaker’s proposed gun legislation.
State Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Phila., has introduced legislation (H.B. 760) that would require a person owning or possessing any firearm to register the firearm. The bill has provoked a massive outcry from gun owners.
At an afternoon news conference, the members of the PLCB said they will be reporting the incident to the Pennsylvania State Police and Capitol Police because they consider the signage a death threat against Cruz.
“How dare these degrading, prejudicial remarks be made against Angel Cruz,” Kirkland said. “It’s one thing to defend one's Second Amendment rights, but it’s another to display a sign urging the lynching of a state House member. That goes too far and that scares many of us.”
The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus was founded in 1973. The purpose of the caucus is to serve as an information and advocacy vehicle to advance the interests of African-American, Latino and other minority citizens across Pennsylvania.
“Hate has no place in Pennsylvania,” Kirkland said.
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