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President Biden And Vice President Harris Respond To Synagogue Hostage Taking

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris responded to the Texas synagogue hostage situation precisely how many would expect Democrats to respond.

As the situation was ongoing Saturday both responded by saying there was more to learn about the motives of the suspect.

They wanted to learn more about the man who picked a Jewish synagogue to take hostages in as he demanded the release of a convicted radical Islamic terrorist.

“Thanks to the courageous work of state, local and federal law enforcement, four Americans who were held hostage at a Texas synagogue will soon be home with their families. I am grateful to the tireless work of law enforcement at all levels who acted cooperatively and fearlessly to rescue the hostages. We are sending love and strength to the members of Congregation Beth Israel, Colleyville, and the Jewish community,” the president said.

“There is more we will learn in the days ahead about the motivations of the hostage taker. But let me be clear to anyone who intends to spread hate—we will stand against antisemitism and against the rise of extremism in this country. That is who we are, and tonight, the men and women of law enforcement made us all proud,” he said.

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One wonders if it were a white male who held these people hostage how quickly the president would blame white supremacist terrorism and former President Donald Trump.

“The FBI and local police said at a news conference Saturday night that three hostages who were held in a Colleyville synagogue for nearly 11 hours are unharmed and the hostage-taker is dead after a hostage rescue team breached the building,” a report by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram read. “Authorities said the hostage-taker was killed in a shooting but did not answer a question about whether he was shot by law enforcement or if the gunshot was self-inflicted.”

Not to be outdone, Vice President Harris is still inexplicably dumbfounded as to what the motives of the terrorist could have possibly been.

“This morning, we are grateful that four people held hostage in a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas are safe and going home to their families. We thank the brave men and women in federal, state, and local law enforcement, and we stand in solidarity with the Congregation Beth Israel community and the entire Jewish community. While we will learn more about the hostage taker’s motivation, we know this: what happened yesterday at Congregation Beth Israel is a reminder that we must speak up and combat antisemitism and hate wherever it exists. Everyone has a right to pray, work, study, and spend time with loved ones not as the other – but as us,” she said.

The suspect claimed to be the brother of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, but it now appears that that was not the case.

The assault on the synagogue was caught on a live stream of the services where the man said “’I’m going to die. Don’t cry about me.

“Are you listening? I am going to die,” he said again and again before the live stream cut off.

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The suspect claimed his sister ”Lady Al Qaeda’ Aafia Siddiqui, who was convicted in New York for trying to kill US military personnel and is serving an 86-year sentence, according to Aaron Katersky of ABC News.  

Aafia Siddiqui, who was a biology major at MIT, said in 1993 that she wanted to do ‘something to help our Muslim brothers and sisters’ even if it meant breaking the law. She moved to Texas to be near her brother, who is an architect. 

She has been reportedly serving time at FMC Carswell, which is 24 miles from the synagogue, since her conviction in 2010. 

The man was holding Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and three other people hostage, Katersky said. 

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The man was claiming to have bombs in unknown locations, but to what extent the assailant is armed, is unknown. 

“’I’m going to die, are you listening? I’m going to die doing this alright? Are you listening? I’m going to die. Don’t cry about me,” the man was heard saying though it is unknown who he was talking to.

“What the f**k is wrong with America?!” he said during another part of the live stream.

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