DENVER – The following statement can be attributed to Deborah Richardson, ACLU of Colorado Executive Director.
“We are heartbroken over the loss of ten lives during the horrific attack in Boulder yesterday. Our deepest sympathies go out to those whose loved ones lost their lives, were injured, or were otherwise impacted by this tragedy.
“While much remains unknown about this shooting, we call on elected officials not to politicize this tragedy for political gain. We must not attribute the actions of one individual to an entire community or justify discriminatory policies targeting American Muslims, Muslim immigrants, or Muslim refugees.
“As a country, we have not had the opportunity to process or grieve the mass shooting that happened in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 16. Now, only days later in Colorado, we are experiencing another tragic loss in an unbearably long string of mass shootings.
“This type of senseless violence permeates our culture to the point where our children are acclimated to routine active shooter drills, and instinctively put thought into their escape plan when they enter a classroom, movie theater, doctor’s office, or grocery store. It feels tiresome and hopeless. As we work toward concrete avenues for change, we are committed to supporting the victims and their loved ones, and helping our fellow Coloradans work to heal the scars that too many tragedies like this one have left on our state.”
Rest in peace, neighbors.
Denny Stong, 20 Neven Stanisic, 23 Rikki Olds, 25 Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 Suzanne Fountain, 59 Teri Leiker, 51 Officer Eric Talley, 51 Kevin Mahoney, 61 Lynn Murray, 62 Jody Waters, 65