[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 175 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VIOLENT ATTACK ON JEWISH COMMUNITY IN PENNSYLVANIA

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, October 27, as 
worshippers gathered to celebrate the naming of a new baby at the Tree 
of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a gunman 
burst into the temple wielding three handguns and an AR-15 assault 
rifle shouting ``All Jews Must Die.'' He murdered three women and eight 
men before he was subdued by the police in what authorities are calling 
the worst attack on the Jewish community in American history.
  The eleven congregants killed and the six others who were wounded in 
this act of pure evil were targeted because of one reason only: they 
were Jews. Peaceful law abiding Americans were killed in a holy place 
on the Jewish Sabbath simply for being Jews. That this would happen in 
2018 is appalling and is a tragic reminder that anti-Semitism is 
unfortunately alive and well. The Jewish American community dates back 
to before the founding of our country, as this often persecuted 
religious community sought shelter in the hope of the American promise. 
In his 1790 letter to the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, 
George Washington famously wrote, ``The government of the United States 
. . . gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. May 
the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to 
merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitats--while every one 
shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be 
none to make him afraid.''
  Mr. Speaker, what happened on Saturday was an assault on the very 
foundations of America. It was an assault on freedom of religion 
guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I always 
say that the First Amendment is first because it is the most 
important--it is the very basis of what historically has made this 
country different than all others. It is because of that amendment that 
Jews and people of all other faiths have made this country their home.
  This deranged killer sought not only to kill Jews on the Sabbath, he 
sought to kill America as we know it. His violent and murderous actions 
should be treated as a hate crime, and he should be brought to justice 
swiftly. If he is indeed convicted, this man should be meted out the 
most severe punishment under the law.
  Just days following this heinous attack, the Rabbi of the Tree of 
Life Synagogue summed up the significance of what occurred well. ``Many 
just see this as an attack on the Jewish community. It's not. When 
American citizens cannot freely and safely worship in their house of 
worship and celebrate the Sabbath, it concerned me because it 
challenges the safety and security of all Americans in any house of 
worship. It was an attack on America.''
  And that's just the way it is.

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