Several American celebrities held the President of the United States of America Donald Trump accountable for a hate crime which happened at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Eleven people have been killed and a number of others injured after a shooting at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Saturday.
Police said the killer, Robert Bowers, walked into the building and yelled, “all Jews must die!” before shooting the worshipers. Bowers who was armed with an AR-15 and three handguns, opened fire on the two officers before retreating back into the building.
Police officers who pursued Bowers found him on the third floor of the synagogue and he opened fire on them. One officer was shot multiple times and critically wounded while another officer was also shot at multiple times. Bowers was injured in the exchange of gunfire and was taken into custody.
He made statements to an officer that he wanted all Jews to die and also that Jews were committing genocide on his people.
American comedian, actor and screenwriter Ike Barinholtz who responded to news of the shooting at the synagogue tweeted, “if you support Donald Trump you should too because this shit is on you!”
As an American Jew I feel nauseous. And if you support Donald Trump you should too because this shit is on YOU. IT’S YOUR FAULT. Remember that tonight as you’re trying to go to sleep
— Ike Barinholtz (@ikebarinholtz) October 27, 2018
American television writer and producer Danny Zuker asked if a Republican party donor and billionaire would continue supporting Trump after this attack.
To Sheldon Adelson and my other Jewish brothers and sisters who support this bigot in the name of Israel: Is moving the embassy to Jerusalem really worth all the hate Trump has sewn?
— Danny Zuker (@DannyZuker) October 27, 2018
President Trump offered condolences for the victims and their loved ones shortly after the shooting.
“All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh,” President Trump said. “We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries.”
He also condemned the shooting, calling it an “evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity.”
“It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate.”
Trump also ordered that flags at the White House be flown at half-staff at the White House, public grounds, and every military post in “solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence perpetrated at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.”
First Lady of the United States Melania Trump tweeted, the violence needs to stop”.
My heart breaks over the news out of #Pittsburgh. The violence needs to stop. May God bless, guide & unite the United States of America.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 27, 2018
The condemnation by Trump and Melania of the shooting did little to quell the unhappiness of the celebrities who pushed for gun control, and blamed the president with his supporters for normalizing an anti-Semitic climate in the country that led to the heinous shooting.
Then tell your husband to stop saying he is a “nationalist” which is code for nazis and the kkk. Tell him to stop saying he wants to be able to say “merry Xmas instead of happy holidays!” Which is an anti-Semitic dog whistle. Tell him to stop dividing the country and condemn hate https://t.co/sR0WfmS6dJ
— John Leguizamo (@JohnLeguizamo) October 27, 2018
Love & solidarity to all our Jewish brothers & sisters. Excuse me, fellow gentiles, didn’t we all agree that we would NEVER let something like this happen again? That we would, at the first HINT of fascism, put an end to it before it grew into something worse? That moment is now.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 28, 2018
He has always promoted hate. He planted so many seeds. We need to vote out the @gop who support all of this and never renounce his madness. https://t.co/x4LeNjs5pH
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) October 27, 2018
Dogwhistle reminder that these words used by our openly Nationalist President are winks to the alt right:
Soros = The Jews
Globalist=dirty jew
Nationalist =white Nationalist— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) October 27, 2018
#priorities trump and his stupid f-ing hair is more important to him than the citizens he’s supposed to represent #VoteBlueToEndThisNightmare https://t.co/fLyYJa3C8k
— Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) October 27, 2018
Rabbi Myers is right: #WeDeserveBetter. Better gun laws, better leaders who will stand up for public safety, not the interests of the NRA.
On Nov. 6, let’s elect Gun Sense Candidates who will do just that. Find them here: https://t.co/n0s210zcLchttps://t.co/ORMEwaEbB5
— Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) October 28, 2018
Just heard about Pittsburg – all this violence & hatred – begins to end with yr votes – the gop must go – every last one – and their kkkult leader /the arch criminal trump must be driven out of power – https://t.co/NSEtJrZie9
— John Cusack (@johncusack) October 27, 2018
Trump is what he is. Drop the “The President* needs to…” nonsense. He’s the worst of us. The bottom. His damage, selfishness & laziness appeal to the damage, selfishness & laziness within his supporters. He’s stunted. He ain’t changing. https://t.co/sU6D7iUvN4
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) October 27, 2018
The President heard “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville and said nothing. 2 African Americans are killed by a white supremacist at Kroger’s & he said nothing. Bombs sent to assassinate a “globalist”( code for Jew) and he condemns the victim. 11 are killed in a synagogue
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) October 27, 2018
To the families of those who died in the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, my deepest and sincere sympathies. This horror is escalating day by day. If only we had LEADERSHIP that would actually take steps to stop it.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 27, 2018
This. Needs. To. End. #vote https://t.co/7vjzoGfbEg
— Jordan Horowitz ? (@jehorowitz) October 27, 2018
Wow! @realDonaldTrump just blamed the victims for not having guns inside the temple. He’s gotta go!
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) October 27, 2018
Whether or not a direct line from his words to today’s horrific acts can be drawn, Trump’s anti-Jewish rhetoric and dog whistles make such attacks more likely. And the same can be said for the garbage he spouts about other groups. #VoteBlueToSaveAmerica
— Seasonal Scaryname (@JoshMalina) October 27, 2018
We can’t go to the movies
We can’t go to church
We can’t go to synagogue
We can’t go to a mosque
We can’t go to a concert
We can’t go to school
We can’t go to work
So we have to go to the polls. ?#GunSenseCandidates— Ben Platt (@BenSPLATT) October 27, 2018
A more honest Trump: “The synagogue should have had armed protection seeing as how I’m president”
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) October 27, 2018
Ivanka reminded us just now that “America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot.”
I agree. Together, we can defeat her father’s Nazi dog-whistling and support of violence.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 27, 2018
Dear media. All of you. Stop broadcasting his rallies. Don't show clips either. PLEASE. For the love of America, cut off his incessant hate speech. Now.
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) October 27, 2018