Lieutenant Gov. Designate Antonio Delgado visited Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Crotona Park on Sunday after the mass shooting in Buffalo.
“You have to learn how to hate. No one is born hating somebody about the color of their skin, or how they look,” Delgado said to the congregation.
After the attack, where investigators say the gunman targeted people of color, shooting 13 people, 11 of whom were Black, the lieutenant governor designate said he wants to see more progress in the form of legislation that would prevent gun violence.
“It is concerning and this is why we as leaders have to do more to protect our communities to make sure that they are not being subjected to this type of radicalization and arming this radicalization in the way it has happened,” Delgado said.
Delgado’s visit to the church, which has been part of the Bronx community for more than 75 years, came as the NYPD ramped up its presence at specific locations in communities of color across the city in response to the shooting.
Officers were seen at the Abyssinian Baptist Church Sunday morning.
“It is very sad that we have to have the police here,” Rev. Calvin Butts said. “Especially to know that our country, even though it has tried to make leaps forward, is still mired in bigotry and hatred. And violence. Very sad. I’m heartbroken about it. But, I’m happy that the police are here."