Pennsylvania reacts to mass shooting at Trump rally

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, one of some 500 state and local labor councils of the AFL-CIO, condemned the political violence that resulted in an attack at a rally Saturday night in Butler.

The rally was for former President Donald Trump. ?

“Regardless of where your politics fall, there isunequivocallyno place for political violence,” Angela Ferritto, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, said in a statement. “As Americans, and as Pennsylvanians, we settle our differences at the ballot box. As union members, we put aside those differences to push for a better tomorrow for all working Americans. I am stunned and appalled that this happened.”

“In the coming days and weeks, this attack may prove to have a profound impact on how we characterize ourselves as Americans, what we hold closest to our hearts, and our norms as a democracy. This is not a path forward any of us want,” Ferritto added.

Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a statement declaring, “ Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”

Pennsylvania lawmakers joined the governor in condemning the violence that killed one bystander and critically wounded two others in Saturday night’s rally.

“Political violence is never acceptable,” said Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA. Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA, likewise condemned the shooting.

State Senate Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said the “resilience of America” must overcome any acts of violence. State Sen. Scott Martin, R-Berks/Lancaster, stated that violence has “no place in our political discourse.”

President Joe Biden called for Americans to “cool it down” and “resolve our differences at the ballot box.” Biden ordered a security?review of the attack, and the FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism.

The shooter was identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old registered Republican of Bethel Park.

Shapiro said Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who died while shielding his family from the attack, “died a hero.”

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