June 10, 2009

MPAC condemns Holocaust Memorial Museum shooting

The Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned a hate-motivated shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC this afternoon. An 88-year-old white supremacist entered the museum with a shotgun and began shooting without warning, resulting in the death of at least one security guard.

SEE: "Security Guard Is Killed in Shooting at Holocaust Museum in D.C." (New York Times)

The man, James von Brunn, embraces various conspiracy theories involving Jews, blacks and other minority groups and has at times waged a personal war with the federal government. On his website, von Brunn claims that in 1981 he attempted to arrest the leadership of the Federal Reserve. He says he was arrested after surrendering to a guard who called von Brunn's bluff on his threats to open fire, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

"Our prayers go out to the victim's family," said MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati. "Tragic incidents like this one only strengthen our commitment to combating intolerance in all forms through education and dialogue."