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OAS Secretary General Condemns Attack in Tucson

  January 10, 2011

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, has strongly condemned the attack perpetrated during a political event led by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona, in which six people were killed, including Federal Judge John Roll, a nine-year-old girl, and four assistants of the Democratic representative for Arizona’s Eighth District.

“A crime such as this demands reflection about the way in which our politics is conducted, and about the consequences of the rhetoric of confrontation and violence issued towards political opponents without regard for the effect it may have on mentally ill people,” Secretary General Insulza said.

He added that “the strengthening of our democracies means not only to respect the Rule of Law, but also to uproot intolerance and the language of violence in political debate.”

The head of the hemispheric Organization expressed support with the relatives of the deceased, as well as with the critically injured legislator, and with all affected by this act of brutal and senseless violence.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-498/11