Democratic Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia addressed the tragic murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was bludgeoned to death while on a run on the UGA campus. The suspect, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela with a criminal record in New York, had been released after crossing the border illegally.
During a recent speech, President Biden mentioned Laken Riley, prompted by a Georgia Republican, expressing condolences to her family. Former President Trump also met with the Riley family at a rally, blaming Biden's border policies for her death.
Senator Warnock, acknowledging the grief of the Riley family, emphasized the need to secure the border, a sentiment shared by both parties. He highlighted a bipartisan legislation that was recently proposed to address border security but was not pursued for debate.
Warnock criticized the politicization of Laken Riley's death, stating that using such tragedies for political gain is detrimental to the political process and alienates people from engaging in politics. He stressed the importance of securing the border while ensuring the safety of children.
As a pastor who has presided over numerous funerals, Warnock empathized with the Riley family's profound loss, emphasizing the devastating impact of parents burying their children. He called for a more constructive approach to addressing border security issues and preventing such tragedies in the future.