Reaction is, of course, coming in from all over the world following the killing of Osama bin Laden. Here’s the statement we received a short time ago from U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, whose 14th Congressional District includes portions of the Lower East Side:
The announcement by the President was a truly historic moment after one of the most tumultuous decades in modern times. It comes as welcome news to those who lives were ripped apart by attacks of 9/11. As we approach the 10th anniversary of that terrible day, this is also a solemn moment to reflect and remember. Nearly 3,000 men, women, and children died in New York City alone, due directly to orders issued by Osama Bin Laden. His death will help bring a measure of closure to our city and it represents the end of a chapter in a larger story still to be written. There is more healing that must take place, more rebuilding that must be accomplished, and there are many still struggling to fully recover. But tyrants are falling in the Middle East and freedom has made progress. And with this announcement I can hear my city breathing a sigh of relief.
And here’s a statement from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:
The long-awaited promise to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice has been fulfilled and with it a painful chapter in America’s history and particularly, the history of Lower Manhattan, has finally been closed. The assault that ended Bin Laden’s life brought an essential measure of justice to the families of the 9/11 casualties and to the countless residents of my community and first responders from around the city and state who continue to suffer from World Trade Center-related illnesses. When his moment of truth came, the architect of the 9/11 attacks on America left this world knowing that he had failed to crush the American spirit and that New York – the city he planned to destroy – grows stronger and more diverse with every passing day. On behalf of the citizens of Lower Manhattan, I commend President Obama and the Administration for their commitment to keeping the promise made to us on September 11, 2001. We salute the courageous men and women of our Armed Services, who have sacrificed so much to bring Bin Laden to justice and who continue to fight terrorism around the world. Although this face of terrorism has been relegated to the pages of history, we cannot let down our guard. Our resolve to eradicate terrorism – root and branch – must remain firm.
