Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
How Valley Elected Leaders Reacted to New Zealand Tragedy
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
March 20, 2019

Share

Elected representatives of the Central Valley offered their comments on the shooting deaths of 50 Muslim worshippers last Friday in New Zealand:

“We all mourn the loss of life in New Zealand. Islamophobia and hate of any kind have no place in society and should not be tolerated. My thoughts are with the victims and their families as they work to pick up the pieces of this terrible tragedy.”

— Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno)

“Once again innocent people have been attacked and killed because of their faith. We stand with the people of Christchurch & our Muslim friends in Fresno who are reeling from this senseless act, and we must strengthen our resolve to counter hate & intolerance with love & humanity.”

— Fresno Mayor Lee Brand

“Heartbroken this morning – 49 dead in #Christchurch, victims of hate and Islamophobia stoked by extremist leaders around the globe. The politics of division has real, deadly consequences, and my family today is praying for the families of the victims.”

— Congressman TJ Cox (D-Fresno)


“Pam & I are heartbroken to hear about the horrific acts of violence in New Zealand. We must condemn all acts of terror & reject all forms of hatred. Thank you to all first responders in Christchurch & my heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones in this act of brutality.”

— Congressman Josh Harder (D-Turlock)

“The loss of life is heartbreaking and appalling, and I stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters in these tragic times. I have been in contact with the Council on Islamic American Relations offering support in any way that I or my office can.”

— Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza (District 7)

Pure Evil! We stand in complete solidarity with the Muslim community and the people of New Zealand!  Our thoughts and prayers are with all those people and their families that lost their lives or were injured. Hatred and evil and those that support it must always be denounced and defeated.  May God Bless all the victims of this heinous act.”

— Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld (District 6)

“Our City joins Christchurch in solidarity to mourn the unnecessary loss of life that took place last week, and my heart goes out to all the victims and the families who have endured this horrific tragedy.  What happened in New Zealand could happen anywhere, and I stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters in saying that Fresno will not tolerate these senseless acts of islamophobia and hate.  We must be united and recognize that our community is stronger because of our diversity. “

— Fresno City Councilmember Luis Chavez  (District 5)

GV Wire reached out to other local leaders for comment including Rep. Devin Nunes and all members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Fresno City Council and Clovis City Council. No other responses have been received at the time of publication.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Mexican Beauty Influencer Shot to Death During TikTok Livestream

DON'T MISS

Cassie Testifies That Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Raped Her and Threatened to Release Sex Videos

DON'T MISS

Georgetown University Student Released From Immigration Detention

DON'T MISS

Teens Accused in Caleb Quick’s Murder Appear in Juvenile Court

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Drive-By Shooting

DON'T MISS

Newsom Reveals His Weaknesses When He Needs Political Hardball to Get His Way

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Fresno Youth Buck California Jobs Loss Trend

DON'T MISS

Community Health Paying $31.5M to Settle Kickback Allegations of Money, Liquor, Cigars

DON'T MISS

Here’s Your Chance to Shape Fresno County Measure C Transportation Tax

DON'T MISS

Avoid Highway 41 in Fresno. Brush Fire Is Causing Traffic Delays

UP NEXT

Here’s Your Chance to Shape Fresno County Measure C Transportation Tax

UP NEXT

Avoid Highway 41 in Fresno. Brush Fire Is Causing Traffic Delays

UP NEXT

Clovis Police, ABC Cite Three for Giving Alcohol to Minors in Shoulder Tap Operation

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Activity Shuts Down Stretch of Blackstone Avenue

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Simon Aguilera Navarro

UP NEXT

Fresno Police to Hold DUI Checkpoint Saturday

UP NEXT

Investors Buy Fig Garden Village. How Much Did It Sell For?

UP NEXT

Fresno County DA Wants Teens Tried as Adults in Caleb Quick Murder

UP NEXT

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Shooting Suspect

Teens Accused in Caleb Quick’s Murder Appear in Juvenile Court

1 hour ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Drive-By Shooting

2 hours ago

Newsom Reveals His Weaknesses When He Needs Political Hardball to Get His Way

2 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Fresno Youth Buck California Jobs Loss Trend

2 hours ago

Community Health Paying $31.5M to Settle Kickback Allegations of Money, Liquor, Cigars

2 hours ago

Here’s Your Chance to Shape Fresno County Measure C Transportation Tax

3 hours ago

Avoid Highway 41 in Fresno. Brush Fire Is Causing Traffic Delays

4 hours ago

To Fix $50M Budget Hole, Fresno Will Hold Off Hiring and Make Spending Cuts

5 hours ago

Bad News for California. State Budget Is $12 Billion in the Red

6 hours ago

Can Middle Schoolers Handle College? This San Jose School Is Finding Out

6 hours ago

Mexican Beauty Influencer Shot to Death During TikTok Livestream

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A young Mexican social media influencer, known for her videos about beauty and makeup, was brazenly shot to de...

35 minutes ago

Mexican social media influencer, Valeria Marquez, 23, who was brazenly shot to death during a TikTok livestream in the beauty salon where she worked in the city of Zapopan, looks on in this picture obtained from social media. @v___marquez/via Instagram/via REUTERS
35 minutes ago

Mexican Beauty Influencer Shot to Death During TikTok Livestream

Cassie Ventura, left, and Sean "Diddy" Combs appear at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating "China: Through the Looking Glass" in New York on May 4, 2015. (AP File)
49 minutes ago

Cassie Testifies That Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Raped Her and Threatened to Release Sex Videos

Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University scholar from India, speaks after he was released from immigration detention facility Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Alvarado, Texas. (AP/Kendria LaFleur)
52 minutes ago

Georgetown University Student Released From Immigration Detention

Fresno clovis caleb quick
1 hour ago

Teens Accused in Caleb Quick’s Murder Appear in Juvenile Court

Jose Flores was arrested in connection with an April 30 shooting in central Fresno after police say he fired multiple rounds at a victim’s vehicle during a dispute, striking the car and fleeing the scene. (Fresno PD)
2 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Drive-By Shooting

2 hours ago

Newsom Reveals His Weaknesses When He Needs Political Hardball to Get His Way

2 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Fresno Youth Buck California Jobs Loss Trend

2 hours ago

Community Health Paying $31.5M to Settle Kickback Allegations of Money, Liquor, Cigars

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend