“Grief overwhelms the soul”: Reactions to Texas elementary school shooting

At least 18 students and one adult were killed during a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday. Many high-profile celebrities and politicians reacted on social media to the tragedy.

“Lord, enough. Little children and their teacher. Stunned. Angry. Heartbroken,” first lady Jill Biden tweeted.

President Biden spoke about the shooting Tuesday night and called for action, asking, “Why? Why are we willing live with this carnage?” “

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke Tuesday night at an event and called for policy changes that would help prevent such tragedies.

” In a moment like this, we would all naturally say that our hearts are breaking. Harris stated that our hearts continue to break.” Harris said, “You know, I think, there are so many elected officials in this room. You know what I mean: Every tragedy like this breaks our hearts — and our broken hearts are nothing compared with the broken hearts that those families have. Yet, it continues to happen. “

“May God bless the memory of the victims, and in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds,” former President Barack Obama tweeted.

Former President Bill Clinton also shared a statement on Twitter saying his “heart breaks for the families who sent their children and loved ones off to school today at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, whose lives will never be the same. “

” “The time to act now is the right time,” he said.

Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted: “Thoughts and prayers are not enough. After years of doing nothing, we are now a nation of anguished screams. We need legislators to end the violence that is killing our children with guns in America. “

Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, who previously served as a U.S. representative and ran for president in 2020, tweeted: “Our broken hearts are with Uvalde.” He also retweeted University Healthcare’s message about donating blood to help the victims of the shooting.

“Children went to school today and were killed in a mass shooting. Another American community shattered by gun violence,” Sen. Cory Booker tweeted. “Another round for thoughts and prayers. If we don’t do anything to stop the violence, unrelenting and preventable shootings in our country, they will be hollow words. “

Many pleaded for more than prayers and thoughts — they asked instead for U.S. action government.

In a searing speech on the Senate floor, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy pleaded, “Why? Why are we here? To make sure that Sandy Hook’s experience is not repeated in other schools and communities. What Uvalde is going though. “

“Grief overtakes the soul. Children slaughtered. Lives extinguished. Parents were devastated. Incomprehensible,” Sen. Mitt Romney tweeted. “I offer condolence and prayer, but I know it is grossly inadequate. We need to find the answers. “

“14 children and a teacher have been killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Texas,” former RNC chair Michael Steele tweeted. “Again, another school shooting. Mothers and fathers will again have lost a child. Politicians will again offer their’shock’ or their ‘prayers. In a week, we will move on. Again. “

David Hogg, who was a student at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when a gunman opened fire in 2018, killing 17, also reacted to the shooting Tuesday.

” We need to do something. We know what we disagree on we need to focus on what we can and do it even if small,” he tweeted. No more thoughts or prayers. Bipartisan action is needed. “

Many celebrities also responded to the tragedy.

Before game 4 of the NBA Western Conference finals Tuesday night, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr started his press conference by saying he “wasn’t going to talk about basketball. “

He instead focused on gun violence — the shooting in Texas, the Buffalo supermarket shooting and a church shooting in Southern California, just in the last few days. Kerr banging on the table, “When are we going do something?” “I’m tired of standing up and offering condolences for the families that have lost their loved ones. I’m so sorry, excuse my, I’m sorry. I’m tired the silence. Enough! “

Kerr called on the Senate to pass H.R.8, which is also called the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021. It passed the House last March but has not yet been brought to the Senate floor for a vote. “We are being held hostage by 50 Senators in Washington who refuse to even put it to a vote,” he raged. “It’s pathetic! “

“My thoughts & prayers go out to the loved ones who have lost & been injured at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde TX!” LeBron James tweeted. “Like when is enough man!” These are children and we keep putting them at risk at school. Seriously, ‘AT SCHOOL’ is where it’s supposed to be the most safest. “

“Has to stop man…… prayers to all the families in Texas,” tweeted Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Prayers for the people in Texas man those are kids that were killed smh this world needs God smh,” rapper Offset tweeted.

President Biden has ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff through May 28.

In:
• School Shooting
• Texas
• Mass Shooting