I am deeply disturbed by the attacks on our diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt. Four Americans have now been killed, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. My heart goes out to their families. They were brave public servants working tirelessly to improve relations with Egypt, Libya, and the rest of the world. This is a tragic loss. 

“Today we honor the memory of the thousands of lives lost on September 11, 2001, and commemorate the heroism displayed on that day. On September 11, we were not Democrats or Republicans, black or white, gay or straight; we were Americans. Despite the political backdrop of the moment, on 9/11 let us remember we are all Americans and treasure the freedoms we hold dear. 

“On Labor Day, we celebrate the contributions of America’s heroes—the working men and women of this country. For decades, workers have been fighting for better pay and good benefits in exchange for a hard day’s work. As President John F. Kennedy said, ‘The history of the United States is in vital respects the history of labor.’

MINNEAPOLIS- “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrific act of violence and their community. It is particularly disturbing that the shooting occurred in a place of worship—where many Americans go for peace and prayer.

“Acts of violence like this remind us that, no matter our religion or ethnicity, we are one American family. While we do not know the shooter’s motivation, many Sikhs have been victims of hate crimes in recent years based on their appearance.  More than half a million Sikhs live in the United States, including over 250 families in Minnesota. We should all rededicate ourselves to the safety and security of our communities.”