Interfaith Alliance: We Remain Committed to Combating Antisemitism and Islamophobia Here at Home
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“We at Interfaith Alliance are reeling from the devastating violence that unfolded last weekend in Israel. We strongly condemn the Hamas attack on Israelis as an act of terror, and it is clear that Hamas deliberately targeted innocent people, young and old. As the ensuing violence continues, we affirm that all human life is equally precious, and mourn the loss of innocent lives of Israelis and Palestinians in Israel and Gaza. We pray for peace and express our sorrow and solidarity with communities of all faiths, ethnicities, and nationalities currently experiencing pain.
"As a U.S.-focused organization dedicated to creating meaningful interfaith relationships to build a resilient, inclusive democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights for all, we are deeply concerned about the impact of this violence on Jewish, Muslim, and Arab-American communities across the U.S. We are already seeing a dramatic rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia here at home, proliferating on virtual platforms and in communities across the country, including attacks on an Islamic seminary in Boston, MA, a synagogue and Jewish bakery in Fresno, CA, and increased incidences of bullying and harassment of Muslim and Jewish students.
"Interfaith Alliance will redouble its efforts to fight hate and discrimination and to build communities across lines of difference. Interfaith Alliance remains firmly committed to our partners, and is currently holding space and providing guidance for community members to navigate and process these horrific developments. We are working together with coalition partners and stakeholders across the country to address increased instances of religious and ethnicity-based hate and rhetoric, and affirming our position as a resource for faith-based and secular communities as we work to achieve democracy together.
"We hope that people of diverse religions and beliefs will call upon their spiritual and ethical traditions for the courage to fight against hate, the vision to see the humanity in our neighbors, and the strength to forge a path forward together towards peace in communities large and small across the nation. Interfaith Alliance is with you.”
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