Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Andrew Little’s Notice of Motion on Orlando

Andrew Little’s Notice of Motion on Orlando

Mr Speaker,

The Labour Party joins with the government in expressing our horror at this atrocity and our love and sympathy are with the victims and their families.

Our thoughts are with the people of Orlando and of the United States, as well as their representatives here in New Zealand.

Mr Speaker this was an atrocious and hateful act.

It was an act of terror. It was also a hate crime.

It was a targeted attack on the LGBTI community.

It was the deliberate mass murder of LGBTI people because of who they were and who they loved.

These young people were attacked and murdered in a place that was meant to be safe for them.

That was meant to be a haven where they could go to dance and have fun and be themselves.

This was a place where they wouldn’t be subject to homophobia or violence or hatred.

And in that place, in that sanctuary, they were murdered in cold blood.

Mr Speaker, like millions of people around the world, we have all seen the heart breaking details that have emerged about this shooting.

The stories of first responders arriving at the scene to a chorus of ringing cell phones as the families of those hurt and killed desperately tried to contact their loved ones.

The story of Eddie Justice, who was able to hide in the bathroom of the night club long enough to send his mother a text telling her he loved her and whose mother then had to read the horrifying words “He’s coming, I’m gonna die.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Mr Speaker, this attack has broken hearts around the world.

But while we mourn and we grieve we must also rededicate ourselves to the great universal values of humanity which attacks like this seek to deny and destroy.

Inclusion. Openness. Respect. Love.
We must reaffirm our commitment to a society where everyone is free to love who they chose, worship how they chose and to be themselves without fear of violence or repression.

We must reaffirm our commitment to ending bigotry and intolerance and hatred wherever we find it, because that’s what true freedom means.

While we grieve and we mourn, we remind ourselves that love is love and love is stronger than hate.

And that together, we will not let hate win.

Thank you.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.