In the wake of the killings by a suspected islamic extremist,
Barack Obama ha condenmed the act, tagging it as both an act of terror
and an act of hate. He also that the act has been confirmed as a
terrorist act by the central intelligence, and added that the FBI is
currently investigating it. Read his speech.
" Today, as Americans, we grieve the brutal
murder—a horrific massacre—of dozens of
innocent people. We pray for their families,
who are grasping for answers with broken
hearts. We stand with the people of Orlando,
who have endured a terrible attack on their
city. Although it's still early in the
investigation, we know enough to say that this
was an act of terror and an act of hate. And as
Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage,
and in resolve to defend our people.
I just finished a meeting with FBI Director
Comey and my homeland security and national
security advisors. The FBI is on the scene and
leading the investigation, in partnership with
local law enforcement. I've directed that the
full resources of the federal government be
made available for this investigation.
We are still learning all the facts. This is an
open investigation. We've reached no
definitive judgment on the precise motivations
of the killer. The FBI is appropriately
investigating this as an act of terrorism. And
I've directed that we must spare no effort to
determine what—if any—inspiration or
association this killer may have had with
terrorist groups. What is clear is that he was a
person filled with hatred. Over the coming
days, we'll uncover why and how this
happened, and we will go wherever the facts
lead us.
This morning I spoke with my good friend,
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and I conveyed
the condolences of the entire American people.
This could have been any one of our
communities. So I told Mayor Dyer that
whatever help he and the people of Orlando
need—they are going to get it. As a country,
we will be there for the people of Orlando
today, tomorrow and for all the days to come.
We also express our profound gratitude to all
the police and first responders who rushed into
harm's way. Their courage and professionalism
saved lives, and kept the carnage from being
even worse. It's the kind of sacrifice that our
law enforcement professionals make every
single day for all of us, and we can never thank
them enough.
This is an especially heartbreaking day for all
our friends—our fellow Americans—who are
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The
shooter targeted a nightclub where people
came together to be with friends, to dance
and to sing, and to live. The place where they
were attacked is more than a nightclub—it is a
place of solidarity and empowerment 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 on the fundamental values of
equality and dignity that define us as a
country. And no act of hate or terror will ever
change who we are or the values that make us
Americans.
Today marks the most deadly shooting in
American history. The shooter was apparently
armed with a handgun and a powerful assault
rifle. This massacre is therefore a further
reminder of how easy it is for someone to get
their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot
people in a school, or in a house of worship, or
a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we
have to decide if that's the kind of country we
want to be. And to actively do nothing is a
decision as well.
In the coming hours and days, we'll learn
about the victims of this tragedy. Their names.
Their faces. Who they were. The joy that they
brought to families and to friends, and the
difference that they made in this world. Say a
prayer for them and say a prayer for their
families—that God give them the strength to
bear the unbearable. And that He give us all
the strength to be there for them, and the
strength and courage to change. We need to
demonstrate that we are defined more—as a
country—by the way they lived their lives than
by the hate of the man who took them from
us.
As we go together, we will draw inspiration
from heroic and selfless acts—friends who
helped friends, took care of each other and
saved lives. In the face of hate and violence,
we will love one another. We will not give in to
fear or turn against each other. Instead, we
will stand united, as Americans, to protect our
people, and defend our nation, and to take
action against those who threaten us.
May God bless the Americans we lost this
morning. May He comfort their families. May
God continue to watch over this country that
we love. Thank you."
