TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Following the U.S. strike on Syria overnight, Andrew Gillum is calling on communities to welcome Syrian refugees fleeing a violent war.
ABC News reports that about 60 U.S. Thomahawk missiles hit the Shayrat air base, where aircraft are often taking off to bomb areas in northern and central Syria.
Andrew Gillum sent out this statement:
"Last night's strike on Syria, first and foremost, leads us to pray for the safety of our brave servicemen and women who are in harm's way defending our nation. As we closely monitor the Administration's actions, we must not lose sight of the more than 5 million Syrian refugees who are fleeing a violent civil war.
"We must welcome them with open arms into our communities, instead of turning our backs on the families and children who have been driven from their homes. Too often, politicians claim they welcome the stranger – now is the time for us to live those values."
The U.S. attack comes after Syria's deadly chemical attack on Tuesday that killed 80 and drew "wide international condemnation."
Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told ABC News that the U.S. insisted that an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the U.S. missile attack on Syria be held in the open so that "any country that chooses to defend the atrocities of the Syrian regime will have to do in full public view, for all the world to hear."
