Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wasted no time chastising those sending “thoughts and prayers” in the wake of the New Zealand mosque massacres that left 49 worshipers dead.
Per the New York Post:
Just after midnight Friday, the Democratic darling tweeted a clip of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying that her “thoughts” were with the victims and families of the shooting in Christchurch.
“At 1st I thought of saying, ‘Imagine being told your house of faith isn’t safe anymore.’ But I couldn’t say ‘imagine.’ Because of Charleston. Pittsburgh. Sutherland Springs,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “What good are your thoughts & prayers when they don’t even keep the pews safe?”
The phrase “thoughts and prayers” has long been derided by gun control advocates, who say that it rings hollow in the absence of more stringent laws.
Some were quick to accuse her of being disrespectful.
this is incredibly insensitive to my muslim brothers and sisters who were slain in cold blood while they were literally praying because they want to be closer to their creator and they want to become better people. https://t.co/uq9VzofTsN
— siraj hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) March 15, 2019
Yes the one way to show empathy for people murdered at their place of worship is to mock prayer https://t.co/qMe1jmPePQ
— Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) March 15, 2019
The freshman Democrat later suggested the NRA devised the phrase “thoughts and prayers” to distract from the issue of gun violence.
At 1st I thought of saying, “Imagine being told your house of faith isn’t safe anymore.”
But I couldn’t say “imagine.”
Because of Charleston.
Pittsburgh.
Sutherland Springs.What good are your thoughts & prayers when they don’t even keep the pews safe?pic.twitter.com/2mSw0azDN8
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 15, 2019
(“Thoughts and prayers” is reference to the NRA’s phrase used to deflect conversation away from policy change during tragedies. Not directed to PM Ardern, who I greatly admire.)
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 15, 2019
AAN Staff
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