Skip to main content
Statement

As Our Hearts Break for the Victims of the Hate Crimes in New Zealand, We Resolve to Stand With All Those Who Experience Bias, Violence and Hatred

March 15, 2019

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director, and Monifa Bandele, senior vice president of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the anti-Muslim terrorism in New Zealand yesterday:

“Our hearts are breaking for all the victims, survivors and families, and for the entire Muslim community, in Christchurch, New Zealand. The violence that took place yesterday is horrendous. Around the world, mosques, synagogues, temples, gurdwaras, churches and all places of worship should be a refuge of peace and safety. Breaching these sanctuaries with violence and hate is horrific and truly intolerable. Everyone deserves to worship in peace.

“America’s moms grieve with all those who are suffering in New Zealand and all those around the world who feel targeted and less safe today; as we also take seriously our responsibility to say no to Islamophobia and hatred, and to reject inflammatory rhetoric that leads to hateful actions and crimes. We are committed to stamping out xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, religious persecution of all kinds, and discrimination in every form.

“We are devastated that the white supremacy, now more openly espoused here in the United States, reportedly helped motivate the attacks in New Zealand. As we stand with all those who experience bias, violence, and hatred, we call on our leaders to reject the policies too many politicians from both major political parties, and especially the Trump administration, espouse that are driven by bigotry. These include the Muslim Ban and the border wall, which codify and symbolize hate. And we call on our leaders also to #DisarmHate now.”

# # # #

MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.