SACRAMENTO â California Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D â Orange County) released the following statement in response to the 11 people killed in the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue Pittsburgh on Saturday. The victims of the attack were beloved members of one of the countryâs vital Jewish communities. The perpetrator of this brutal act made hate-filled statements during the shooting, and targeted Jews on social media, according to a federal law enforcement official.
âOrange County stands together with the rest of America in support of the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. Our hearts are with the Tree of Life community, the first responders, and the families that suffered their tragic loss,â said Quirk-Silva. âIn the face of this horrendous, hate-driven, and anti-Semitic brutality, we must reject intolerance and remember that inclusion is what makes a community strong. These attacks should be seen as attacks on the very foundation this country stands for.â
In lieu of the tragedy, Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva will continue to work closely with legislative leaders, as well as relevant standing policy committees, concerned residents, and other officials to examine solutions to violent hate crimes that continue to plague communities around the state and the country.