Human Rights Campaign Condemns Shootings at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this brutal attack,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, condemned today’s fatal shooting at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Initial reports by the FBI indicate that the shooter was a white supremacist with well know anti-Semitic and racist writings. A guard at the museum, Stephen Tyrone Johns, was shot and killed in the attack.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this brutal attack,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Horrific crimes like these have no place in our society. The Human Rights Campaign condemns this despicable act of violence in a museum that is dedicated to teaching us the danger that violence motivated by hatred and intolerance poses.”

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum educates thousands of people every day about the 20th-century genocide. The Holocaust Museum is dedicated to building community awareness regarding bias-motivated violence. The Museum sponsors hate crimes trainings and works to educate law enforcement about the danger of bias-motivated violence.

“Today’s shooting brings great sadness to all of us who are committed to stopping senseless violence motivated by hate,” said Solmonese. “This is sad a reminder of how far we still have to go.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.