Senate calls for moment of silence
Israeli Missions Around The World Washington News Senate calls for moment of silence

"Mark the Munich '72 murder"

  • 6/27/2012
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    As the world looks forward to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, many have called on the International Olympic Committee to recognize one of the darkest days in sports history, the murder of 11 athletes and coaches form the Israeli Olympic team at the 1972 Munich Olympics by Palestinian terrorists known as “Black September.”

     
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    On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution urging the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) to mark one minute of silence during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, joining Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and more than 81,000 signatories of a Move.org petition.

    “The Munich tragedy was an outrageous attack against innocent athletes and against the unifying spirit of the Olympics,” said co-sponsor of the bill Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). “Observing a moment of silence at the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, when the world’s attention is focused on this symbol of international cooperation and peace, would pay tribute to the slain athletes and coaches and would send a powerful message of unity in the fight against terrorism.”

    The bi-partisan resolution’s Co-sponsors included Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) Jeff Blumenthal (D-NM), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), James Inhofe (R-OK), Herb Kohl (D-WI), James Risch (R-ID), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Scott Brown (R-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Carl Levin (D-MI), Mark Begich (D-AK), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Robert Casey (D-PA), and John Boozman (R-AR).