- We repudiate the brutal attack in Las Vegas, which caused, so far, 58 deaths and 515 injured. The images of the people terrified seeking shelter before the attacker’s explosions impact the whole world. We stand in solidarity with the injured ones and families of the victims of this terrible attack. It is necessary to demand a rigorous investigation of the case and the full assistance and compensation to the victims by the State.
- The author of the massacre, identified as Stephen Paddock, shoot in cold blood from the roof of a neighboring hotel against a crowd that enjoyed an outdoor concert. This crime constitutes the largest killing by fire-gun in the history of the United States. The Orlando massacre, in June 2016, caused 49 deaths and 53 injured.
- The self-called Islamic State assumed the authorship of the attack: “The Las Vegas attacker is a soldier of the Islamic State in response to calls to target coalition countries,” they said. The first investigations point that the attacker is a “lonely wolf.” However, we cannot dismiss the fact that this individual was “inspired” in the terrorist attacks and methodology of ISIS, which we condemn. In any case, the fact brings to surface a reality, which is that, every year, about 33,000 people die by fire-gun shots in the US, which is 93 per day.
- The Trump administration will attempt to channel this coward attack, independently of the clarification of motive, and use it to reinforce his economic and democratic attacks against the working class, especially immigrants, in the US. The working class organizations and social activism must be alert and mobilized against any measure coming from the government as a “response” to the attack.
IWL-FI, São Paulo, 10/3/17.
