A solemn President Obama urged Americans Saturday to pray for the victims of the Colorado movie massacre and their loved ones.
“This weekend, I hope everyone takes some time for prayer and reflection – for the victims of this terrible tragedy, for the people who knew them and loved them, for those who are still struggling to recover,” Obama said, “and for all the victims of the less-publicized acts of violence that plague our communities on a daily basis.”
Obama devoted his weekly radio address to the “Dark Knight” bloodbath after cutting short a two-day swing through Florida.
Speaking out on the tragedy for the second time, Obama paid tribute to the 12 people who lost their lives in an address strikingly similar to Friday’s.
Obama said the tragedy forced him to reflect on his own family.
“I’m sure many of you who are parents had the same reaction I did when you first heard this news: what if it had been my daughters at the theater, doing what young children enjoy doing every day?” Obama said.
The President added that he and the First Lady will “hug our girls a little tighter this weekend, as I’m sure you will do with your children.”
“But for those parents who may not be so fortunate, we need to embrace them and let them know we will be there for them as a nation,” Obama said.
Both the President and his GOP rival, Mitt Romney, have suspended campaign ads in Colorado in light of the mass shooting.
On Friday, Romney implored Americans to comfort each other in the wake of the Aurora assault.
“I stand here before you today not as a man running for office, but as a father and grandfather, a husband, an American,” Romney said at a campaign stop in New Hampshire. “This is for each of us to look into our hearts and remember how much we love one another and how much we love and how much we care for our great country.” [email protected]
