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Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Statement on the Mass Shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

October 29, 2018

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PRESS STATEMENT HEADER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robin K. Chand

October 27, 2018 202-225-3816

Press Statement

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Statement on the Mass Shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

Jackson Lee—"While we search for answers to this horrific tragedy, we must act affirmatively and urgently to root out and eradicate bigotry, hate and intolerance."

Houston, TX – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget, and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations released this statement following a mass-shooting event at a synagogue in Pittsburgh:

"Once more, the country is reverberating after yet another mass shooting event. Once more, a madman filled with hate violated the sanctity of a house of worship. Today, at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an assailant wielding many firearms, including an AR-15 style rifle, interrupted religious services and ceremonies; one report indicates that he yelled, ‘all Jews must die' before opening fire. While a suspect has been arrested, at least 8 people have been killed, and many more have been injured, including members of law enforcement. I am thinking of them in this very difficult time.

"In the coming days, I look forward to a complete investigation by law enforcement, including whether this conduct constitutes a federal hate crime. But as we process yet another scene of mass murder facilitated by firearms, we know that our thoughts and prayers are simply not enough. We must ask ourselves why the plague of mass shootings occurs with shocking frequency within our borders, but not in other industrialized nations, and why we are seemingly ill-equipped to confront and control this ill. We must ask ourselves how society allowed or enabled this man to take license with so much hate and unleash it on parishioners as he did. While we search for answers to this horrific tragedy, we must act affirmatively and urgently to root out and eradicate bigotry, hate and intolerance."

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Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas's 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is a Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.