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Public Safety

California Senators Introduce Resolution To Condemn Chabad Of Poway Shooting

A group of Poway residents bring flowers and cards to a memorial outside of the Chabad of Poway synagogue, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, Calif. A man opened fire Saturday inside the synagogue near San Diego as worshippers celebrated the last day of a major Jewish holiday.
Denis Poroy / AP
A group of Poway residents bring flowers and cards to a memorial outside of the Chabad of Poway synagogue, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, Calif. A man opened fire Saturday inside the synagogue near San Diego as worshippers celebrated the last day of a major Jewish holiday.

California Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein introduced a Senate resolution Wednesday to condemn the deadly April 27 shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue.

The resolution condemns anti-Semitism, white supremacy, white nationalism and other forms of hatred as antithetical to "American values of dignity and respect for all people." It also expresses hope that the three injured survivors of the attack make a full and swift recovery and includes a call to honor the memory of Lori Gilbert Kaye, who died at the scene of the shooting that occurred during a celebration of the end of the eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover.

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"The rising threat of white nationalism and white supremacy is in direct contradiction with the highest ideals of our country, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to condemn this despicable hate," Harris said.

"Hate has no place in our country," Feinstein said. "Our resolution condemns the anti-Semitic attack on Congregation Chabad and reaffirms our nation's values of openness and tolerance so all Americans can worship freely without fear of violence."

RELATED: In LA, Authorities Thwarted An Attack; In Poway, They Failed To See One Coming

A similar Senate resolution condemning anti-Semitism was introduced last week by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Tim Kaine, D-Virginia.

Chabad of Poway Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who lost his right index finger in the shooting, attended the White House's May 2 National Day of Prayer event at the invitation of President Donald Trump. The president's adviser on Israel, Jason Greenblatt, called Goldstein "a pillar of strength" after a visit to the synagogue last week.

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