Officials and groups condemn hate-motivated fatal shootings in Pittsburgh
Flags have been ordered to fly at half-staff in Pennsylvania as multitudes came out decrying the violence at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue Saturday.
Ten people were killed and others, including four police officers, were injured after Robert Bowers, 46, went on a shooting spree following the posting of anti-Semitic comments on social media.
Gov. Tom Wolf was on the scene in its aftermath.
“The shooting in Pittsburgh … is an absolute tragedy,” he said, adding that he was going to provide any resources needed to local law enforcement and first responders. “These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Americans. My thoughts right now are focused on the victims, their families and making sure law enforcement has every resource they need.”
He said prayer was necessary, but so is action.
“We must all pray and hope for no more loss of life,” he said. “But we have been saying “this one is too many” for far too long. Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm’s way. And in the aftermath of this tragedy, we must come together and take action to prevent these tragedies in the future. We cannot accept this violence as normal.”
Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Val DiGiorgio also expressed concern.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and the families of those affected by yet another act of senseless violence,” he said. “We are also thankful for the law enforcement
and other first responders who stood in harm’s way as they worked to protect their community.”
DiGiorgio said the GOP opposed any act of violence motivated by hate.
“The Republican Party of Pennsylvania condemns this shooting, and any act of violence motivated by intolerance, in the strongest terms,” he said. “All of the events of this past week show that we as a society must work to remember that we are bound together by the human condition, that there is no room for hatred or bigotry in our society, and that there is more that unites us than divides us.”
He put out a call for unity and working together.
“Now, more than ever,” DiGiorgio said, “we must come together as a community and find the common ground on which lies the bedrock of our unifying principles.”
His counterpart, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills, also denounced the act.
“I am heartbroken and dismayed at the news of this violence, which has come to Pittsburgh,” she said. “Across our nation, we have seen too many houses of worship turned into a crime scene. We stand with Gov. Wolf and all of Pennsylvania in condemning acts of violence wherever they happen. Our hearts go out to the victims and the families, and we are grateful for the first responders on the scene.”
She said steps must be taken to end the violence.
“We will not accept that these tragedies are inevitable,” Patton Mills said. “We keep saying ‘not one more,’ and we keep believing that ‘it couldn’t happen here.’ But now it has, and we desperately need to take action to stop these tragedies.”
Farhana Khan, executive director of Muslim Advocates in Washington, said hatred, including that based in religion, must stop.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and
the Jewish community of Pittsburgh,” Khan said. “Places of worship should be safe havens and sanctuaries. Rising anti-Semitism is a scourge in our nation and must end.”
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, also expressed their sentiments.
“This is a horrific attack on the Jewish community that has been motivated by anti-Semitism,” Chad Griffin, HRC president, said. “Our hearts are with the community of the Tree of Life Synagogue, the first responders who bravely rushed into danger to save lives, the people of Pittsburgh, and all those impacted by this tragic act of hate violence.”
He added, however, leaders need to take action – or be changed.
“After Newtown, our nation called for action,” Griffin said. “After Tucson, Virginia Tech, Aurora, San Bernardino, Charleston, and Alexandria, we called for action. After the shooting at Pulse Nightclub more than two years ago, we called for action. After Parkland and Las Vegas, we called for action.
“Yet, in the face of these mounting tragedies, many of our lawmakers have refused to act on meaningful gun safety legislation,” Griffin said. “And it is no surprise how these tragedies so often intersect with vile hatred, this time against the Jewish community.
“As these politicians fail to act, at least seven people were killed and numerous others injured while gathered in prayer,” Griffin concluded. “It’s time for Congress and the White House to act. We need leadership now, not more victim-blaming and divisive rhetoric that could result in more senseless deaths. We must continue to demand action until our lawmakers either hear us — or we have new lawmakers.”