BRONX — U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, and City Councilmember Kevin C. Riley issued the following statement Wednesday after at least eight people were hurt outside a school in the Bronx Tuesday:

“On Tuesday night, we were horrified to learn that a teenager was stabbed and several others were hurt by a car crash outside Harry S. Truman High School. We are first and foremost praying for the children harmed by this incident and for their families, and we’re wishing a full recovery to all.

“Our schools and their surroundings should be places of learning, joy, and most of all, safety. It is devastating to see an incident not only harm our children — but also one that will undoubtedly strike added fear and stress among their peers and in the community. We want everyone across our community to feel safe and secure, and to know that they are loved, they are valuable, and that we are here to support them with whatever they need.

“When it comes to stemming the tide of violence and harm, we are all in this together. The community’s voices matter tremendously as we work to stem the tide of violence in every corner of our community. Our offices are available for engagement and support and ready to do whatever it takes. If you are a guardian with children or teenagers who might be struggling in challenging circumstances, please reach out to us for immediate help. If you have ideas or just want to talk, please reach out to us.

“In recent weeks, we have spoken with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and stood by him denouncing violence in our communities and advocating for more funding for violence prevention programs. These programs have a proven track record to help mediate violence in our communities but require the necessary tools to continue doing their great work. We will be sharing more details in the coming days about additional anti-violence and community safety efforts that we are working on at the local, state and federal level. We look forward to working with you.”

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