Civil and Human Rights Coalition Statement on Shooting at California Synagogue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shin Inouye, [email protected], 202.869.0398

WASHINGTON—Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the reported hate crime shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in Poway, California:

“We cannot allow acts of anti-Semitism and hate, particularly those targeting people because of their faith, race or ethnicity, to become a common occurrence. They are a cruel violation of the fundamental freedoms that define our country and they must stop. We all share the responsibility to continue to speak out against them— above all, those in positions of power, influence, and leadership.

“This shooting is particularly tragic as it happened at the end of the holy days of Passover, a time of peace, and after the horrific mass shooting tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh six months ago. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and their community.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.