USA / IN SPACE: From the crime scene to Washington to space, a moment of silence for victims of the Arizona shooting rampage
Record ID:
324613
USA / IN SPACE: From the crime scene to Washington to space, a moment of silence for victims of the Arizona shooting rampage
- Title: USA / IN SPACE: From the crime scene to Washington to space, a moment of silence for victims of the Arizona shooting rampage
- Date: 11th January 2011
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 10, 2011) (REUTERS) WASHINGTON MONUMENT FLAGS FLYING AT HALF STAFF IN FRONT OF MONUMENT WITH U.S. CAPITOL IN BACKGROUND TOURISTS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST RYAN GASID SAYING: "I don't know what this congresswoman did to this young boy, shooting her like that and shooting at other people, so it's just horrible, it's horrifying." (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN TOURIST KATHARINA BECKER SAYING: "I feel like some people don't see any other way, you know, to, I don't know, make their frustration public." FLAGS FLYING AT HALF STAFF IN FRONT OF MONUMENT WITH U.S. CAPITOL IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN RUSSELL MCCARREN SAYING: "I think people are individually responsible for their own actions. People like the president and people like Palin will say things in a public forum and different people will react to that. The people who say it are not responsible usually for their reactions, because they're not doing it to provoke people into acts of violence."
- Embargoed: 26th January 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa, In Space
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA4ADXOUYXLNJIIKAOLWLCYFMVC
- Story Text: From the U.S. Capitol to the International Space Station to the crime scene in Tuscon, Arizona -- people observed a moment of silence on Monday (January 10) for U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and other victims of a shooting rampage that killed six people and wounded 14.
Giffords remained in critical condition in a Tuscon hospital as a crowd bowed their heads on the steps of the capitol where she once served.
Flags flew at half staff at the Capitol and encircled the Washington monument, where a few tourists braved the cold weather to see the sights.
"I don't know what this congresswoman did to this young boy, shooting her like that and shooting at other people, so it's just horrible, it's horrifying," said Ryan Gasid, a tourist from King's Bay, Georgia.
FBI officers and staff members at the Safeway supermarket in Tuscon where the shooting took place also stopped their work for a moment of silence.
A crowd outside the hospital left flowers and lit candles in honor of the victims before they also took a moment of silence. One woman carried a sign that read "My friend's dad was shot on Saturday."
On the International Space Station, NASA Commander Scott Kelly -- Giffords' brother-in-law -- introduced a moment of silence, which was observed at mission control centers around the globe and in space.
"As I look out the window, I see a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately it is not.These days we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another not just with our actions but also with our irresponsible words. We are better than this. We must do better. The crew of ISS Expedition 26 and the flight control centers around the world would like to observe a moment of silence in honor of all the vic (victims), which include my sister-in-law Gabrielle Giffords, a caring and dedicated public servant," Kelly said.
The 22-year-old man charged with trying to assassinate Giffords, Jared Lee Loughner, is due to appear in court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder.
Doctors said on Monday it was a good sign that there was no increased swelling in her brain and that she continued to respond to simple commands such as squeezing a finger and wiggling her toes.
The shooting spree on Saturday in Arizona has fueled debate about extreme political rhetoric in the United States after an acrimonious campaign for congressional elections in November.
German tourist Katharina Becker said the shooter might have resorted to violence to send a message.
"I feel like some people don't see any other way, you know, to make their frustration public," she said.
Australian tourist Russel McCarren said politicians should not be blamed for the crimes of individuals.
"I think people are individually responsible for their own actions. People like the president and people like Palin will say things in a public forum and different people will react to that. The people who say it are not responsible usually for their reactions, because they're not doing it to provoke people into acts of violence," McCarren said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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