01.29.13

Durbin Psys Tribute to Hadiya Pendleton on Senate Floor

On the one-year anniversary of shooting victim Hadiya Pendleton’s tragic death, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute to her memory on the Senate Floor, and commended her family and friends’ ongoing efforts to help reduce gang and gun violence in Chicago. Durbin has co-sponsored a measure with Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) named in Hadiya’s honor that would prohibit the trafficking and straw purchase of firearms.

“I rise today to pay tribute to Hadiya Pendleton, lost one year ago today. She was 15-years-old. She was gunned down while she was standing with friends in a park on Chicago’s South Side,” Durbin said. “Like so many families who have lost loved ones, the Pendletons have dedicated themselves to turning their pain into a purpose. I commend them for their efforts to try and spare other families. I hope lawmakers will reflect for one brief moment about this good family who lost this great daughter and now has dedicated a big part of their lives to preventing shootings in the future.”

 

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.

 

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.

 

Footage of Durbin remarks on the Senate Floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition here and in standard definition here.

Earlier today, after questioning U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at a Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing, Durbin urged the Department of Justice to move quickly to provide federal assistance to combat violence in the City of Chicago. Attorney General Holder - who is working to identify federal grant opportunities and additional agents that can be made available on both a temporary and permanent basis - announced he will be speaking with Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel tomorrow to identify specific law enforcement needs. 

Video of Senator Durbin’s Q&A with Attorney General Holder will be available shortly here.