Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined the chorus of concerned voices amid the chaos that erupted after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three—including an 8-year-old boy—and wounding more than 170 others.
During a Tuesday morning press conference alongside Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino among others, Warren offered gratitude on behalf of the entire congressional delegation to those who responded quickly in the wake of the attack. “We want to extend our thanks to the first responders, to the firefighters, to the police officers, to the EMS, to everyone on the scene, including the volunteers, who came and helped those in trouble and helped save lives,” she said. “We are deeply grateful.”
Warren also thanked President Obama for his active involvement, and for his pledge of unconditional support to the city of Boston. “The president of the United States has pledged his full support in all efforts, both to keep the city safe, and to find the person who did this,” she said. “We did not have to reach out to the president; the president reached out to us.”
On Monday, Obama promised to bring “the full weight of justice” to those responsible for the deadly attack, but so far law enforcement authorities have no one in custody. Both the Boston police, and the FBI are currently investigating.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Warren expressed her shock and sadness at how a Patriots Day of celebration turned into what she described as “a day of tragedy.”
“The Boston Marathon is always a day of great celebration, and today it was turned into tragedy,” she said on Monday in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been hurt, and their families.”
The 63-year-old senator and former Harvard University professor embraced a message of solidarity with the families of those who were wounded or killed, and expressed fear of what the attackers would “take away from us.”
“During the marathon, we are one family,” she said. “We cheer for each other, we carry each other across the finish lines. And when tragedy strikes, we are also one family. We hurt together, we help each other together.” Warren, who was elected to represent the state of Massachusetts last November, was on her way to Washington, D.C., when the first bomb exploded shortly shortly before 3 p.m. on Boylston Street in the heart of the city. Warren learned of the attack after stepping off the plane at Ronald Reagan National airport, where upon receiving the news, she quickly boarded another plane back to Boston. “I literally never left the airport, I stepped right back on the plane,” she told the Telegraph. “This is family. This is family.” It was a sentiment echoed in her brief remarks on Tuesday—one of unity and resolve and, ultimately, optimism. “Boston will survive,” she said.
Emma Margolin
Emma Margolin is a reporter at MSNBC.com. Recommended
