Politics & Government
British Politician's Shooting Death Draws Sympathy
The British Labour Party representative died after being shot and stabbed while meeting with the public in Birstall, West Yorkshire.
Jo Cox, a Labour Party representative in Britain's parliament, died Thursday after she was shot and stabbed while meeting with constituents in Birstall, West Yorkshire, and sympathies from the United States weren't far behind.
Gabrielle Giffords, former congresswoman from Arizona, tweeted her reaction to the news:
Absolutely sickened to hear of the assassination of Jo Cox. She was young, courageous, and hardworking. A rising star, mother, and wife.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) June 16, 2011
Giffords was shot in Tuscon back in 2011 during a mass shooting as she was meeting with members of the public. She was shot in the head, and needed extensive rehabilitation to regain the ability to walk, talk, and read.
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After the incident and her subsequent recovery, Giffords became a vocal activist for gun control.
A man has been arrested following the attack on Cox, who media reports name as Tommy Mair. Multiple reports suggest that the person who killed Cox yelled "Britain First!" during the attack.
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Cox was a noted advocate for Syrian refugees and argued that Britain should be doing more to help those fleeing Syria.
Political tensions have been high in Britain ahead of a referendum that will be held June 23 to decide whether to remain with or leave the European Union.
Photo Credit: KRoock74 via Wikimedia Commons
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