“As an organization that acts on the Jewish imperative to respect and protect the human rights of all people, T’ruah strongly condemns terrorism of any kind. Violent acts such as the Boston Marathon bombings are designed to devastate communities, wreak havoc and foster a climate of fear and intimidation. Terrorism stems from hate, undermines the core principles of all religions, and has no place in a civilized society.”
“At the same time, we call on our government and our fellow citizens to refrain from scapegoating the Muslim community, based on the actions of the two Boston bombing suspects, who may have had radical viewpoints tied to Islam. The actions of the few should not condemn the many. Immediately following the attacks, all the major Muslim organizations in the United States issued statements condemning the acts. We have since learned that one of the suspects was thrown out of a mosque earlier this year for his radical views. As a member of a coalition of 23 religious organizations engaged in efforts to create interfaith understanding, we urge that the actions of two brothers not be used as an excuse for discrimination or violence against Muslims, Chechens or others from the Former Soviet Union, immigrants, or anyone perceived to belong to any of these groups.”
“We also urge our political leaders to refrain from allowing this incident to derail the much-needed progress toward comprehensive immigration reform. Such reform will make us safer by ensuring that we know who lives in the United States, and by creating a formal process for potential immigrants to apply for residence here.”
“We pray for peace and continue to extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.”