Shootings at U.S. Holocaust Museum, 1 dead (updated)

One week after President Obama was at Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany denouncing intolerance, a gunman walked into the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington with a long gun and opened fire, according to witnesses.

Sgt. David Schlosser, a public information officer of the U.S. Park Police, said the suspect exchanged fire with one security guard and two other guards returned fire against the gunman.

(UPDATE: The suspect and one of the security guards have died. And President Obama issued a statement published in its entirety below.))

The Los Angeles Times is covering the unfolding story -- check updates here.

I just wanted to add this piece of information.

A friend of mine volunteers at the museum on Wednesdays. I called her just after I heard the news to find out how a gunman could penetrate the building, which requires all visitors to go through a metal detector.

I reached my friend on her cellphone as she and other staffers were heading toward the subway. Although she did not want her name to be used, she said me the gunman came into the building firing, even before he got to the metal detectors.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Statement by President Obama on today's shooting

“I am shocked and saddened by today’s shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. This outrageous act reminds us that we must remain vigilant against anti-Semitism and prejudice in all its forms. No American institution is more important to this effort than the Holocaust Museum, and no act of violence will diminish our determination to honor those who were lost by building a more peaceful and tolerant world.

“Today, we have lost a courageous security guard who stood watch at this place of solemn remembrance. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in this painful time.”

Comments

[may hemm]

This smells of MK Ultra or some other sleazy CIA operation.
The Gov wants to make it appear to be part of some antisemitic movement that people want the Fed to be audited. I knew something like this would happen. It's too convenient. Wait and see what comes of it.

[gjdagis]

It appears quite clear that these sorts of occurrences have increased exponentially; perhaps he should moderate his rather extremist policies. They seem to push some vulnerable people over the edge and this is the unfortunate result!

[tlsmith1963]

How many more of these incidents are going to happen before the Republicans take responsibility for them? They encourage hateful speech on the radio. It has to stop. Stop making excuses, Republicans! Take responsibility!

[steve rodriguez]

Hey TSmith, You're full of hate speech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tlsmith1963]

Steve Rodriguez, I give up on you guys. I try to call on the Right to knock this stuff off & I am told that I hate?!! Excuse me?!! Forget it. The Right cannot be reasoned with, obviously. Have fun being a fringe party.

[Anna]

Sometimes the hate coming from some people brings out hate in other people.

Bless us God and forgive our erring ways. Give us the understanding to put purpose in our days and kindness in our mind and heart.

[V. Poonsurakul]

The hate is clearly rising, judging from the comments appearing on far right blogs, and much of it seems to be directed at the President and his wife. A commenter on patterico.com repeatedly refers to Barack Obama as "Mau Mau." Posters on Free Republic refer to Michelle Obama as "Sasquatch." The racial element is hard to miss.

http://patterico.com/2009/06/03/barack-obama-muslim-american/#comment-503261

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2239524/posts

That isn't to say that blogs caused what happened in Washington. There's no evidence for that. But the tenor of the national conversation has become increasingly disturbing.

[Proboscis]

In the 1930's Louisiana Governor Huey Long was asked if fascism could ever come to America. His response was, "Sure, only here they'll call it anti-fascism." Fascism is here in America and it is under the banner of anti-fascism.

Wilmot Robertson wrote a book 38 years ago, which is still valid today - The Dispossessed Majority. He predicted all we are witnessing today and tomorrow. Huey Long was killed by a Jew. The ADL is the biggest hater of all, along with their prime backer, the Israeli government. The anti-racists are too the biggest racists of all, claiming the high ground, but destroying white folk and their heritage in the name of anti-racism. Clearly Jews were, and are the driving force behind world socialism-communism. The system that hates all mankind, excepting the rulers. Truly, Zionism, Christian and Jew, is the most predominate political force today and will destroy civilization if left unchecked. The first casualty being the right to speak freely and openly.

Gentiles prying into JEW LAWS will receive death. TALMUD: Sanhedrin 59a.

Kill the best Gentiles! TALMUD: Sanhedrin 59.

A woman who has intercourse with a beast is eligible to marry a priest. TALMUD: Yebamoth 59b.

A maiden three years and a day may be acquired in marriage by coition. TALMUD: Sanhedrin 55b.

Pederasty with a child below nine years of age is not deemed pederasty. TALMUD: Sanhedrin 54b-55a.

Jesus was illegitimately conceived during menstruation. TALMUD: Kallah 1b (18b).

When a grown up man has intercourse with a little girl, less than 3-years old, it is as nothing. TALMUD: Kethuboth 11a-11b.

Sexual intercourse is permitted with a dead relative. TALMUD: Ya Bhamoth.

You call us racists. You call us supremacists. You call us ignorant, and bigoted, and hateful. What you call racism, we call truth. What you call ignorance, we call enlightenment. When you insult us, we laugh in return. Do you know why? Because we stand here mighty and united, watching you dig and then bury yourselves in your own graves. We are not racists, or bigots, or haters. We are brothers, sisters, friends, and comrades. We are The WHITE RACE, the family you've betrayed and one day, you will answer for your treachery.