“The horrific violence at the Chabad Synagogue in Poway, California, this weekend, on the last day of Passover -- one of the holiest days of the year for the Jewish community -- is an excruciatingly painful reminder of the price we pay when anti-Semitism and white supremacy go unchecked. Our hearts break for the family of Lori Kaye, who was murdered, and for all those who were injured and terrorized by this brutal, senseless act. This shooting occurred six months after the murders at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and together these atrocities remind us of the urgent imperative to end anti-Semitism and hatred in all their forms.

“There has been a dangerous rise in hate speech and hate crimes in our country over the last two years. We remain alarmed and outraged to see this type of violent hatred continue to breed in a country where all people should feel safe. America’s moms will never stand silently by as anti-Semitism rises, or as America’s Jewish community is terrorized by those driven by hate. Nor will we be silent as mosques are burned, racial minorities terrorized, immigrants denied basic human rights, members of the LGBTQ community targeted, and hate spreads. When that happens, not only are lives lost but communities are traumatized, our democracy damaged, and our children’s future put at risk.

“Hate is particularly deadly in a country that puts powerful firearms within easy reach – where both guns and hatred too often go unchecked. The combination of guns and hatred facilitate tragedies like these. So, too, does the inflammatory and divisive rhetoric we see much too often from some of our leaders.

“We pledge to do all we can to stamp out white supremacy and hate, including anti-Semitism, and to challenge rhetoric and actions that inflame our public discourse. We demand a country and a world in which everyone is safe in their place of worship, their home, their workplace and throughout their community. The shootings, the hatred, and the easy access to guns in this country must end.”