Murkowski asks for Young apology on suicide comments
Alaska Dispatch NewsOct 24, 2014
"Earlier today, I talked to
The request came after Young stunned students and staff at
Young made more inflammatory comments Wednesday at a senior center, including that federal largesse was a contributor to suicide in
Murkowski said in her Facebook post that Alaskans appreciate Young's "willingness to speak from the gut." But on an issue like suicide, which casts "an enormous and dark shadow across our state, much more thought needs to be given before speaking up."
"Words matter, and I hope Don can recognize the need to apologize to all Alaskans who have been impacted by the tragedy of suicide," she said.
Murkowski has pursued answers to the state's decades-old suicide epidemic, such as organizing hearings in
Asked if Young would apologize, Young spokesman
Murkowski's post Thursday followed an earlier Facebook statement she made the day before that resulted in a firestorm of angry responses. A petition at change.org had also been launched asking Murkowski to retract the political endorsement she'd given Young.
Murkowski had written that people had asked for her thoughts on what happened at the high school. But the rest of her initial statement did not name Young or clearly address his comments.
Instead, Murkowski spoke about
She said suicide leaves a ripple effect that needs to be addressed with compassion, and added that when a life is lost, "we need to remember to be there for the survivors, the friends and family left behind."
She ended: "Words matter. And when it is hard to find the right words, perhaps a caring hug is the best response."
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