Condemning Shooting at U.S. Holocaust Museum

Floor Speech

CONDEMNING SHOOTING AT U.S. HOLOCAUST MUSEUM -- (House of Representatives - June 11, 2009)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, my district is the home of the first freestanding Holocaust Museum in the United States of America. For 25 years, it has stood as a reminder of the horrific consequences of extremism and hate.

Just a few months ago, the founder of that museum, Rabbi Charles Rosenzvieg, passed away. Although he is gone, his life's work will educate future generations about the horrors of the Holocaust so that such senseless violence should never again be repeated. Last month, this body passed a resolution honoring his life and memory.

So it is with an especially heavy heart today that I come to the floor to urge the passage of Resolution 529, a resolution condemning the violent attack on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10.

The Holocaust Museum exists as a place to reflect and to mourn murderous prejudice and hatred. Yet, yesterday, a senseless attack, motivated by the same prejudice and hatred, resulted in the tragic death of a security guard, Stephen T. Johns. It is a sad reminder that we must all remain vigilant in continuing the work of Rabbi Rosenzvieg--to purge discrimination and hatred from this world.

I thank Congressman Klein for sponsoring this important resolution.

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