DAP stands in solidarity with hate crime victims

Oct 29, 2018

October 29, 2018 — St. Louis, Missouri:

The act of violence carried out at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh on Saturday — which killed 11 people and injured many more — is a tragic event that has devastated a community and stunned our nation. We at Diversity Awareness Partnership offer our condolences to those who are grieving, and stand in solidarity with those who are recovering from this hate crime.

Our country aspires to be a place of safety and refuge for those who are persecuted and marginalized. We hold sacred those spaces where people can worship together and express their religious beliefs. At DAP, we engage in conversations with thousands of people every year, people who condemn this and any action that persecutes another for their religious beliefs. As we confront the repercussions of this shooting, as well as other similar incidents, we must hold fast to this higher vision for our nation, and not let despair have the last word.

Diversity Awareness Partnership continues these conversations — holding the vision for inclusive communities where diversity is respected and embraced, and equity is the norm — knowing that these events are evidence of the work left to be done. Together, we must embrace opportunities — at home and work, in our neighborhood and online, with family, friends, elected officials, and strangers — to advocate against violence and division, and stand for inclusion, diversity, and equity for all people.