Rep. Bobby Rush on Jennifer Hudson family murders pleads, "stop the killing"

Statement by The Honorable Bobby L. Rush

on the Tragic Loss faced by Jennifer Hudson and her family

CHICAGO — “At times like these, words seem small in comparison to the overwhelming loss that has been suffered by Jennifer Hudson, Julia Hudson, and the entire Hudson family.

“My outrage at the level of depravity displayed by the gun-wielding assailant in the deaths, last Friday, of the Hudson sisters’ mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, is only eclipsed, today, by my grief at the news this afternoon that our hopes for the safe return of Julia Hudson’s seven-year-old son, Julian King, were not to be realized.

“I mourn today because three people in the Englewood community died a senseless death apparently at the barrel of a gun. I mourn because Darnell, Jason and Julian are members of my community. I mourn because everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States, which is more than the number of American soldiers killed in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

“Americans of conscious must come together to stop these senseless deaths. We must say ‘enough is enough, stop the killing.’

“I want Jennifer, Julia, and the entire Hudson family to know that my staff and I are available to provide whatever support they may need in the coming days, weeks and months as they walk through the overwhelming grief, loss and sadness I know they are experiencing.

“As sure as I know that there is a God, I pray that the loving God we serve will continue to guide and comfort the Hudson family, and our entire Chicago community, during this heartbreaking set of circumstances.

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