Switchfoot's Jon Foreman Addresses the Death of Christina Grimmie & the Orlando Massacre

By Timothy Yap Jun 19, 2016 05:11 AM EDT

Switchfoot's front man Jon Foreman has taken the time to write a new blog this afternoon in response to the death of the Voice's contestant Christina Grimmie and the Orlando shootings. Foreman shared via Facebook, "I wrote a few words about Orlando. Read 'em and pass 'em around.‪#‎PrayForOrlando‬ ‪#‎WhereTheLightShinesThrough‬."

On June 10, 2016, Grimmie was shot by 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl of St. Petersburg, Florida, while she signed autographs following her performance with Before You Exit at The Plaza Live in Orlando. Loibl then shot himself dead after being tackled by Grimmie's brother Marcus. Grimmie was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition; she died early on June 11.

Then on June 12, 2016, a mass shooting occurred inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. Fifty people died, including the gunman, who was killed by Orlando police after a three-hour standoff. An additional 53 people were injured. It was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in the United States, and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in that country. The attack was widely denounced as an act of terrorism and a hate crime.

The blog, titled "America Who Are You?", touches on the recent heartbreaking death of young singer Christina Grimmie as well as the Orlando tragedy last week while still acting as a challenge of sorts to our hurting country.

"I'm in a hotel room far from home. I'm staring at a piece of paper with a pen in my hand -- speechless. I don't know where to begin. Tears streaming down my face, i just watched a video of Christina Grimmie sing a song I that wrote about hope. And now, the TV is on with the news with more reports on the violence in Orlando. I look around me, and I see fear on all sides."

"It used to be that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Well, I will not be driven by fear and I refuse to remain silent. I've got a serious question to ask. America who are you? Are you bigoted, racist, terrorized? Or are you compassionate, strong, and honorable? I'm not alone asking this question- America who are you?" Jon continued. "America who are you? The land of the free, the home of the brave? Only time will tell..."

Switchfoot is preparing to release their tenth studio album, Where The Light Shines Through, on July 8th.