Today, the leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union) — the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization — issued the following statement in the aftermath of yesterday’s murderous attack in a Buffalo, N.Y. supermarket:
The Orthodox Union condemns the horrific attack targeting innocent African American shoppers at a Buffalo, N.Y. supermarket. The attack was perpetrated by a white supremacist who posted online a manifesto filled with the most vile racist and antisemitic ideas. We stand in solidarity with the African American community in the fight against all forms of bigotry, and we extend our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims of this hate. We also thank local and federal law enforcement authorities who have taken the criminal into custody and will prosecute him.
This tragic incident is but the latest in a series of violent crimes fueled by a toxic combination of racist hatred and online media platforms. We renew our call upon leaders of government and the corporate sector to take real and meaningful actions to rein in the river of hate that flows through the online landscape. Congress should pass the bipartisan Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 350), and leaders of online corporations must implement policies that thwart the spread of violence-motivating actions.
We join in sincere prayer for peace and goodwill to dominate our culture. With unity and the purposeful action of people of good will, we can hope to be able to deter and prevent the next hate crime from occurring.