Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, others express solidarity with Christchurch
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto took to social media Friday to express solidarity with people in Christchurch, New Zealand, and promise protection for Pittsburgh’s Muslim community in the wake of the mosque shootings that left at least 49 dead.
Mayor @LianneDalziel - the people of Pittsburgh are with you and our brothers & sisters in Christchurch. Wishing you peace on this horrendous day. https://t.co/2nSCh4JF9y
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) March 15, 2019
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) March 15, 2019
Already on it. https://t.co/yzJl9npt98
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) March 15, 2019
Pittsburgh Public Safety said officials have been in contact with local Islamic leaders and increased patrols at mosques and other places of worship.
“The City of Pittsburgh will protect all houses of worship and the right to freely and safely practice your religion without fear,” the department said in a statement.
“As Mayor William Peduto noted following the tragic events of Oct. 27, 2018, in the Tree of Life Synagogue, Pittsburgh got its asterisk that day. We were added to the long list of communities who have suffered unimaginable loss as the result of ignorance and extremism,” the statement added. “Today we stand with the people of Christchurch, New Zealand. We offer our deepest condolences. And we will continue to stand united against all forms of hate.”
Peduto, who has been pushing to strengthen gun regulations in the city since 11 people were killed at Squirrel Hill’s Tree of Life synagogue, also tweeted Friday about a failed bid in New Zealand a decade ago to reclassify certain civilian semiautomatic weapons.
“Thoughts & Prayers are not enough,” Peduto tweeted.
In March 2009 the New Zealand police bid to reclassify certain types of civilian semi-automatic firearms was overturned by the New Zealand High Court as a result of a legal challenge mounted by the New Zealand National Shooters Association (NSA)
Thoughts & Prayers are not enough https://t.co/VEVuyUilDb
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) March 15, 2019
Peduto wasn’t alone in taking to social media to express solidarity between Pittsburghers and people in Christchurch.
Anyone who was in Pittsburgh just this past October can fully understand what it feels like in Christchurch this evening. God bless the dead , wounded, first responders and the families. As here in Pittsburgh don’t let hate win. It is what the people who do these bad acts want.
— Vinnie Richichi (@nyvinnie) March 15, 2019
Pittsburgh = Christchurch
— David Steinberg (@RabbiDSteinberg) March 15, 2019
I wake up sickened again. My heart breaks as I stand with my Muslim friends as we call out hate once again. This must end. This cannot be tolerated. https://t.co/2hvWFJamLh
— Daniel Gilman (@danielgilman) March 15, 2019
Bishop David A. Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh said in a statement that his “heart hurts to learn of yet another mass shooting in a place of worship.”
“The senseless taking of innocent life is only made more disturbing when people are targeted because of their beliefs and as they gather to pray … Our local community knows all too well the shock and horror of a massacre such as this,” Zubik said.
Although Zubik said such acts are intended to drive people apart, he said they can instead build up a community that is “stronger than hate.”
Tom Davidson is a TribLive news editor. He has been a journalist in Western Pennsylvania for more than 25 years. He can be reached at tdavidson@triblive.com.
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