Portland observer., January 12, 2011, 2011 special edition, Page 5, Image 5

January 12, 2011
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©
M a r t in L u t h e r K in g J r .
Page 5
2011 s p e c ia l eoi!ion
Assassination Attempt Stuns Nation
Target of attack
improves; six
others killed
(A P)~ OneofU.S. Rep. Gabrielle
Giffords' doctors declared Tuesday
she has "a 101 percent chance of
surviving," as she made more
progress, moving both arms and
breathing on her own for the first
time — just three days after a bullet
shot through her brain.
Doctors emphasize she is in fora
long recovery, and her neurosur­
geon repeated his cautionary phrase
of "she's holding her own."
But there was no denying what
was clearly good news.
Giffords, a three-time Democrat,
remains in critical condition at Tuc­
son, Ariz.'s University Medical Cen­
ter where she was operated on Sat­
urday after being shot during a
meeting with constituents outside a
Safeway supermarket. The attack
killed six and injured 14 others. Six
remained hospitalized.
D octors previously reported
Giffords raised two fingers of her
left hand and gave a thumbs-up
when responding to verbal com­
mands.
The nation got its first look on
Monday at the 22-year-old loner
A photo o f U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords before Saturday’s assassina­
tion attem pt outside a Safeway store in Tucson, Ariz., where she was
meeting with her constituents. Six other people, including a federal
judge were killed and 14 others were injured in the attack.
accused of trying to assassinate
Giffords. Jared Loughner, head
shaved, a cut above the right temple
and his hands cuffed, scanned a
packed courtroom and sat down.
His attorney, who defended
"Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski, whis­
pered to him.
The judge asked Loughner if he
understood that he could get life in
prison— or the death penalty — for
killing federal Judge John Roll, one
of the six who died in the shooting
rampage.
"Yes," he said, standing at a
lectum in his beige prison jumpsuit.
The judge ordered Loughner held
without bail.
Hours earlier, the nation observed
a moment of silence for the victims
of the rampage, from the South Lawn
of the White House and the steps of
the U.S. Capitol to legislature be­
yond Arizona and the International
Space Station.
try to come together in prayer or
There, Giffords' brother-in-law, reflection for those killed and those
Scott, the commanding officer, spoke • fighting to recover,
over the radio. Flight controllers in
"In the coming days we're going
Houston fell silent.
to have a lot o f time to reflect," he
"As I look out the window, I see said. "Right now the main thing
a very beautiful planet that seems we're doing is to offer our thoughts
very inviting and peaceful," he said, and prayers to those who've been
Unfortunately, it is not.
impacted, making sure w ere joining
"These days, we are constantly together and pulling together as a
reminded of the unspeak­
country.
able acts of violence and
In total, 19 people
dam age we can inflict
were shot in the rampage
upon one another, not just
outside a supermarket
with our actions, but also
where Giffords held here
with our irresponsible
meeting. Giffords was
words," he said.
shot in the head, and
"W e're b e tte r than
remains in intensive care.
this," he said. "We must
Among the six people
do better."
killed were a 9-year-old
Jared Loughner
On a frigid morning
girl who was born on the
outside the White House, President day of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist
B arack O bam a and first lady attacks and was interested in public
Michelle Obama stood side by side, service, as well as one of Giffords'
each with their hands clasped, heads aides.
bowed and eyes closed.
Loughner was tackled to the
On the steps ot the U.S. Capitol, ground minutes after the shooting
congressional staff and other em- began, authorities said. He has been
ployees did the same.
silent ever since.
At the Supreme Court, the jus-
Loughner is charged with one
tices paused tor a moment of silence count of attempted assassination
between the two cases they were of a member of Congress, two counts
hearing Monday morning. Arizona's of killing an employee of the federal
chief federal judge, John Roll, was government and two counts of at-
killed in the attack.
tempting to kill a federal employee.
The president called for the coun- More charges are expected.
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