Presidents' Letter Regarding Racist Murders in Buffalo

The letter below was completed a few hours prior to the shootings at Robb Elementary School. Our hearts go out to all in that community and beyond who are suffering due to gun violence experienced by far too many in our country.

We, the presidents of the American Statistical Association, extend our thoughts and condolences to all who were directly or indirectly affected by the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. We are hurt and moved by the senseless loss of life motivated by hate and bigotry.

This horrific event demonstrates how disinformation perpetuates false and dangerous narratives. The ASA supports the ethical use of statistics and data science to ensure policies and ideals do not harm, marginalize, and otherwise divide people and groups within our society. The ASA provides guidelines to ensure statistics and data science powerfully help the public objectively understand our world to bring people together, improve our collective quality of life, and advance the human narrative toward a brighter future.

Thank you for joining us in standing against hate and bigotry. The ASA will continue to be strong advocates for the responsible and ethical use of statistics and data science and will do its part to create a society that equally values all persons, regardless of their racial and ethnic background.

Katherine B. Ensor, ASA President
Dionne L. Price, ASA President-Elect