An attack on two mosques in New Zealand last week left 50 people dead and many more wounded.
President Vincent Price issued a statement Friday evening in response to the mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The attacks took place at Al Noor mosque and Linwood mosque Friday afternoon. In an email to the Duke community, Price expressed his "shock and sadness" at the tragedy, which he said is the most recent in a string of white supremacist attacks worldwide.
“I join other members of the Duke community in my shock and sadness about the horrific shootings in New Zealand,” Price wrote. “I am particularly dismayed that they appear to have been deliberate attacks on the Muslim community—the latest in an abhorrent trend of white supremacist violence around the world.”
In an email to students, Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, wrote that there will be a vigil hosted by the Duke Muslim Students Association Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. on the quadrangle in front of the Chapel to honor the victims of the attack.
Price expressed his support for people in the Duke community who may have been affected by the tragedy.
“I want to assure those students, faculty, and staff from New Zealand and members of the Duke Muslim community that we stand by them in this great moment of pain,” Price wrote. “Support is available to all that need it; more information can be found at DukeReach.”
He stated that the University condemns the attacks, writing that "Duke will always stand on the side of openness, acceptance, and inclusion."
On Sunday, the New York Times reported that the death toll rose to 50, with 34 victims still in the hospital, 12 of whom are in critical condition. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, was charged with one count of murder in connection to the shootings Saturday. He is slated to appear in court April 5 and will face more charges.
Mike Bush, New Zealand’s police commissioner, told the New York Times that a list of victims’ names has been shared with the families, but the names will not be publicly released until there is formal identification of the victims' bodies.
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Stefanie Pousoulides is The Chronicle's Investigations Editor. A senior from Akron, Ohio, Stefanie is double majoring in political science and international comparative studies and serves as a Senior Editor of The Muse Magazine, Duke's feminist magazine. She is also a former co-Editor-in-Chief of The Muse Magazine and a former reporting intern at PolitiFact in Washington, D.C.