America First Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) offered moving remarks in memory of a slain college student who came from his home state. Tuberville’s speech eulogizing Ella Cook came just days after it appears she was the target of a psychopathic gunman on account of her political and religious views.
“Just a few days ago, Ella Cook was tragically murdered by a deranged psychopath at Brown University,” Tuberville wrote on social media along with the video clip of his Senate-floor address. “Ella was an outspoken Christian and a patriot who truly loved this country. Though she is no longer with us here on earth, we know she is in heaven.”
The Christian Tribune wrote that “initial reports suggest that Ella Cook, just 19 years old and a sophomore at Providence, Rhode Island’s Ivy League Brown University, was studying with friends when a lone gunman walked into her location with the seeming intent to specifically begin his violent rampage by attacking her. She was reportedly shot directly in the face. She and another student lost their lives.”
Senator Tuberville’s speech carried with it the purpose to “honor” the slain Cook. “I come to the floor today to honor the life of Ella Cook, one of the victims in last weekend’s horrific attack that killed two and left more wounded at Brown University,” his remarks began.
“Ella was a 19 year old female and a sophomore at Brown her life was taken far too soon in a disgusting act of violence that leaves all of us searching for answers. You know, moments like this remind all of us how short life really is and how important it is to take advantage of every moment. Ella certainly took advantage of every moment she had with us here on Earth.
The former college football coach then described the personal life of the young woman. She was from a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama to a family with two other siblings and a loving mother and father. She played piano, danced, and loved to travel, and along with that was studying French at Brown University.
But Cook was also devoutly religious. She spent weekend at church serving kids at Sunday school and believed her highest calling was to one day be a mother. “The most important thing to know about Ella is that she was a devout Christian. She was very involved in her church, the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, and was loved by everyone there. In her obituary, it says, not only did her personal faith shine out like a bright Christmas star. But she loved others as real people, not as objects. Ella loved God with her whole heart, and she loved people with her whole heart,” Tuberville explained.
In addition to her faith, Ella Cook also deeply loved America and what this nation stands for. “She also was a patriot who loved this country,” Tuberville continued, “and she served as vice president of the College Republicans at Brown University. She was clearly a very courageous young lady, and I can’t imagine that was an easy job on such a liberal campus as brown but Ella was resolute in her mission to speak the truth and to fight every day for Christian values that have made this country great.”
The Alabama Senator then defended the notion that Cook was targeted for her beliefs. “You know, it certainly seems like this might have been a targeted attack. We will not rest until the deranged psychopath who did this is brought to justice, but that being said, may God bless the cook family, give them peace and comfort in the midst of unspeakable tragedy, and may we honor Ella by carrying forward the values she lived by, though her life was taken far too soon, we know she is in heaven now, and we will make sure that Ella’s legacy of patriotism and faith lives on here on earth. May God bless the cook family and may God bless Ella Cook.”
Watch Tuberville’s moving remarks below:
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video