President Barack Obama on Sunday spoke about the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed at least 50 people, including the shooter — making it the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
President Obama’s remarks on the mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida
Obama called the attack “an act of terror and an act of hate.” But he said there was no definitive judgment on the killer’s motives, including whether he was affiliated with any terrorist groups. “What is clear is he was filled with hatred,” he said.
But Obama also called for action. Noting that this was the deadliest shooting in US history, he argued that “to actively do nothing is a decision as well.”
The president also spoke against anti-LGBTQ hate. “The place where they were attacked is more than a nightclub, it is a place of solidarity and empowerment,” Obama said, “where people have come together to raise awareness, to speak their minds, and to advocate for their civil rights. So this is a sobering reminder that attacks on any American, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation is an attack on all of us and fundamental values of dignity.”
For more on the shooting, read Vox’s ongoing story stream.
