Holocaust Museum Moves On After Shooting

Remnants Of Crime Scene Gone, Museum Reopens After Mourning Guard Killed By Gunman

(CBS/ AP)  Hundreds of visitors streamed into the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as it opened Friday for the first time since a security guard was shot to death by a man authorities identified as a rifle-toting 88-year-old white supremacist.

The museum, which was closed Thursday for a day of mourning, opened shortly after 10 a.m. Officials said the crowds seemed to be about the same size as usual this time of year.

Many visitors said they were determined not to let the shooting keep them away.

Liz Johnson, 35, led a group of 12 Girl Scouts dressed in lavender T-shirts. The members of the Dallas troop were among the first in line.

"To say that we can't do this because of this event is that man winning," Johnson said. "We're not going to let him win."

Few signs of the shooting remained outside the museum. The crime scene tape was gone, and the bullet-scarred front doors had been replaced.

About two dozen flower bouquets near the entrance formed a makeshift memorial to the slain guard, 39-year-old Stephen T. Johns. On top of one bouquet was a photo of Johns, who was black, with the inscription, "Truly a righteous Gentile."

Authorities have charged James von Brunn with murder in the Wednesday attack and are looking at possible hate crime charges. Von Brunn, who was shot in the face by other guards, remained in critical condition Friday.

At Temple Beth Shalom in Arnold, Md., near von Brunn's Annapolis home, Rabbi Ari Goldstein said he planned to talk with his congregation about what happened at regular Friday night services. He said he wants to make it clear that anti-Semitism and racism are still issues.

"This is where this guy (von Brunn) is from," Goldstein noted. "Our town is not free of this type of hate."

Goldstein said he and a local black minister brought anti-Semitic and racist activity to the attention of local police several years ago after residents found leaflets in their mailboxes and driveways. The clergy filed a police report, but investigators told them the leaflets fell under the realm of free speech.

Goldstein said the congregation will recite poems and other writings in honor of Johns.

[mnbrant]

Democrats, the vermin for which the second amendment was written think they are superior and cen trample rights and murder babies, and well I tried to inform you but it is train time friday, so have a good weekend, do soem reading lefty morons!! YOU are the racists and evil swine.
Posted by ralpherus at 1:07 PM : Jun 12, 2009

Vermin and swine? Why don't you spit it out and say Democrats are Jews? I am a Democrat who is may become a Jew. Maybe that would solve the problem.

[mnbrant]

Only 1 in every 10,000 people will meet a violent end in this country - I'm willing to bet on being in the 9,999 who don't rather than be frightened enough to buy a weapon. BTW the reason that it's 1 in 10,000 and not 1 in 50 - 100,000, like everywhere else in the western world, is because of your beloved NRA and their love of guns.
Posted by dartplayer501 at 1:09 PM : Jun 12, 2009

Actually only 1 in 20,000 meet a violent end in this country. There are however no statistics on gun ownership affecting homicide rates. Since in most homicides one or both are either drunk or on drugs, I would think gun ownership would make the chance of a person dieing go way up. Support gun control now. When all those gun toting retirees start getting their social security checks cut. The person they may take out will be YOU!

[lynn1452]

What is a white supremacist going driving a South Korean-made car? Just asking.;

[dbaecht]

"by zonkzilla June 12, 2009 8:26 AM PDT
Millions of German solidiers could not destroy the Jewish people, one old Nazi is not going to shut down the memorial.
We definitely also need a memorial to the Native American holocaust, some estimates put the number of Native Americans killed in North America in the 500 years ( the longest holocaust in history) as high as 90 million people.
The genocide of Native Americans is one of the most horrible events in world history and yet it is hidden and forgotten.
Were is the Native American holocaust memorial?
I ask the Jewish people to help with a demand for a memorial to the Native Americans who were also victims of the same type of genocide and holocaust."

As a Native American I agree with your post, the problem is it will never happen. Religion and greed will keep it from ever being a reality.

[taxchurches]

What I love is that right above this story on the homepage is Rev. Wright spewing anti-Semitism.

[dartplayer501]

YOU are the racists and evil swine.
Posted by ralpherus

I guess you've run off home by now - but that last statement sure doesn't sound like you believe in liberty and justice for all. Sounds more like liberty for fascsts and death to anyone who disagrees. Now where have I heard that before????

[dartplayer501]

If you want to be defenseless, OK, but Americans find that to be very stupid...and fatal.
Posted by ralpherus

Only 1 in every 10,000 people will meet a violent end in this country - I'm willing to bet on being in the 9,999 who don't rather than be frightened enough to buy a weapon. BTW the reason that it's 1 in 10,000 and not 1 in 50 - 100,000, like everywhere else in the western world, is because of your beloved NRA and their love of guns.

[ralpherus]

dart- like a democrat, you are a parasite!! free health care...shove off you tick.

[ralpherus]

I like that the USA was formed to protect our rights among which are the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness, right to keep and bear arms (for self and city and state and national defense)...the protection of our rights to our own creativity and that when the government is infected by evil vermin, it is our right and duty to abolish it. And that my rights are no better, OR LESSER than my fellow citizens. Democrats, the vermin for which the second amendment was written think they are superior and cen trample rights and murder babies, and well I tried to inform you but it is train time friday, so have a good weekend, do soem reading lefty morons!! YOU are the racists and evil swine.

[kayslug]

Isn't there supposed to be separation of Church and State in this country? Why does this museum bear the United States name?

Also, pity the poor girl scouts that were exposed to this grim history today.

[dartplayer501]

How's about adding 3 things I don't particularly like about the USA - these are a lot harder now that Bush is gone.

1) Even with democrats in power, the US is still further to the right politically than pretty much any other country.
2) The richest country in the world can't afford to give its poorer citizens free health care.
3) Rap music. (That's not racist, I detest white rappers as much as any others; I just can't stand the "music.")

[ralpherus]

learning about freedom is not wrong lefty wackjob! And anyone of any race are welcome and ARE members of the NRA, the first civil rights organization! Criminal attack is criminal attack- whether done by a government, a gang, an individual. If you want to be defenseless, OK, but Americans find that to be very stupid...and fatal.

[chusanroad]

I understand there was a group of about a hundred JehovaWitnesses from Mexico on tour in the museum when the shooting started. (I remember when I toured that part of the holocaust exhibit is about their internment along with Jewish people during the war.) Anyway, how ironic that Mexicans visiting America have to be afraid of violence!

[dartplayer501]

hey any lefty: Tell us three things you love about the USA!!
Posted by ralpherus

1) You pay better than any country other than Germany.
2) Everyone can become whatever they want, there's basically no ruling elite that you can't get into.
3) Everyone has the freedom of speech - even total whack-jobs like you.

[dartplayer501]

dart player- you are uninformed, illinformed, and not very friendly. Must be a democrat.
Posted by ralpherus

I'm not uninformed or illinformed and I'm very friendly - just not to people who advocate violence. "Not free to defend your life? You are only free to be murdered. Join the NRA and learn about freedom!!" Sounds like a call to arms for your supremacist militia to me.

[ralpherus]

hey any lefty: Tell us three things you love about the USA!!

[ralpherus]

so yes ubrew- racists are lefitst. Forcing folks to do things against their will, or removing say, right to life (in absence of criminality- self defense is a different aspect of a different topic) is democrats. An inconvenient baby may be murdered with democrats. A nazi says kill jews- inconvenient race... what is the difference?
An American values the rights of other innocent people! When a criminal attack happens- then self defense comes in to play. If I am attacked, I merely want the attack to stop. I have rights too! If I am forced to draw and fire - to stop the attack, that is legal. It has nothing to do with who is attacking me, their race, political views or anything, but STOP THE ATTACK. Dems have been attacking our rights for over fifty years!

[ralpherus]

hello ubrew. Well, the way I see it, is this: Americans are not racists, becuase all men are created equal, and under the law, are to be treated equally. Americans love our freedom, and see anyone being a victim of loss of freedom, unrighteously, as being an attack on our freedom too. Now, nazi's like to control other people and dictate what other folks can do. Sounds like democrats to me!

[ralpherus]

dart player- you are uninformed, illinformed, and not very friendly. Must be a democrat.

[ubrew12]

ralpherus said: "Just remember people: the sick wack-job is a leftist. And too- remember that people who are happy and free are not easily controlled...and the dems want to control us.."

Good luck selling that hogwash. White supremicists are all leftists, I assume?
You've been completely propagandized. Up is down for you now, and you're trying to convince the rest of us. Thanks, but no thanks.