埼玉英語会 英検１級・準１級　コミュのUvalde tells Biden to 'do something'; he pledges 'we will'

U.S. President Joe Biden sought Sunday to comfort a city grieving the killings of
19 elementary school pupils and two teachers at the hands of a lone gunman.
Faced with chants of “do something” as he departed a church service to meet
privately with the families, Biden responded: “We will.”

The visit to Uvalde was Biden’s second trip in as many weeks to console
a community mourning a staggering loss after a shooting.
He traveled to Buffalo, New York, on May 17 to meet with victims' families and
condemn white supremacy after a shooter espousing the racist “replacement theory”
killed 10 Black people at a supermarket.

*espouse : support

At Robb Elementary School, Biden stopped at a memorial of 21 white crosses —
one for each of those killed — and the first lady added a bouquet of white flowers
to a pile in front of the school sign. They viewed individual altars erected in memory
of each student, and the first lady touched the children's photos as the couple
moved along the row.

Both shootings and their aftermath put a fresh spotlight on the nation’s entrenched
divisions and its inability to forge consensus on actions to reduce gun violence.

*entrench : set, seat, root


“Evil came to that elementary school classroom in Texas, to that grocery store
in New York, to far too many places where innocents have died,” Biden said Saturday
in a commencement address at the University of Delaware. “We have to stand
stronger. We must stand stronger. We cannot outlaw tragedy, I know, but we can
make America safer.”

After visiting the memorial, Biden attended Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
where some victims' families worship. As he departed to meet privately with family
members, a crowd of about 100 people began chanting “do something.”
Biden replied, “We will,” as he got into his car.

It was not immediately clear what the president was suggesting.
He also planned to meet with first responders before returning to his home
in Delaware.