WATCH: Debbie Wasserman Schultz breaks down while reading letter from Gabby Giffords at House Democrats' sit-in

Washington, DC, June 23, 2016

EXAMINER

WATCH: Debbie Wasserman Schultz breaks down while reading letter from Gabby Giffords at House Democrats' sit-in

Madeleine Morgenstern

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz gave an emotional reading of a letter from former colleague Gabby Giffords during the House Democrats' floor sit-in Wednesday.

Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who read Giffords' resignation letter on the House floor after she was gravely injured in the 2011 shooting that killed six, said she was proud to give her friend a voice once more.

"'Dear friend and former colleague,'" she began, "'there is nowhere I would rather be right now than with you, on the floor of the people's house, representing southern Arizona.'"

Giffords' letter said gun violence "touches every community. It is both public and private. In our homes and on our streets. At work. At church. At the movies, at a dance club. At school, and at school again. At a Congress on your corner. The victims are young and old, but always with so much love ahead of them.

"They are white and black and Latino and Asian-American. They are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and straight. They are Christian and Muslim, Jewish and Sikh. They are veterans and government workers and union members. They are rich and poor. They die by murder, they die by suicide and they die by negligence. Often they don't die, but they carry the scars and their lives change forever."

Wasserman Schultz continued reading, her voice breaking: "'Speaking is difficult for me, but I haven't been silenced and neither should the American people. Their representatives must vote to prevent gun violence.'"

She went on, her voice rising: "'I'm so proud of our friends today. I'm so proud to stand with all of you and we will be here and sit in and stand strong until we can make sure there are no more Gabbys, no more Orlando, no more Aurora, no more victims!'"

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/watch-debbie-wasserman-schultz-breaks-down-while-reading-letter-from-gabby-giffords-at-house-democrats-sit-in/article/2594636