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Rep Meeks Issues Statement Concerning Anti-Semitic Pittsburgh Shooting

October 28, 2018
Washington D.C. - Today, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks issued the following statement concerning the anti-semitic shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue:
The events in Pittsburgh today are a national tragedy and a grim reminder of the prejudices that continue to surface and divide our nation. My thoughts go to the victims and families whose lives were either taken or affected by the hatred displayed today, but thoughts are not enough. We cannot pretend that extremist rhetoric in our public discourse hasn't created space for bad actors to preach or act upon their bigotted beliefs.

There is no praise of nationalism that doesn't telegraph to white-nationalism, and its anti-Semitic elements that have recently manifested into hate-speech and attacks across our country. Words have consequences, and though no one is responsible for the actions of a mad-man, there is due blame for those who have created an environment in which prejudices are tolerated or even accepted.

We must issue ubiquitous condemnation of those whose words run counter to the values of our nation and our humanity. Pittsburgh is not an outlier but a symptom of a surfacing intolerance, and we as Americans must give it no grounds and no quarter.