For Immediate Release
October 17, 2023

In the wake of the horrific murder of a six-year-old Muslim boy, whose mother was also critically wounded in the attack, JCRC Bay Area and our national partner the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) organized a letter, signed so far by 124 Jewish groups, condemning Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate.

“We reject any effort to exploit the war in Israel and Gaza to spread hate and we stand firmly with our Muslim and Arab neighbors against the bigotry they face. Just as we face an onslaught of antisemitism, so too do they face fear and prejudice. This is a tragedy for everyone involved, and the last thing we need is for the war to come home,” said Tyler Gregory, JCRC Bay Area CEO.

“We stand in solidarity with all our neighbors under threat, and urge our elected and civic leaders, law enforcement, schools and universities, and employers to make clear there will be zero tolerance for any act of hate,” said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the JCPA, who led the effort to build the statement.

You can read the statement, including all signatories, here and the full text is below:

Since Hamas’ terror attacks in Israel on October 7th, we’ve seen bigots and extremists exploit the crisis to spread hate, disinformation, and extremism.

This is a moment of deep Jewish pain, mourning the lives taken and praying for the safe release of the hostages in Gaza – and this pain and fear is compounded by a horrific rise in antisemitism here in the United States and around the globe.

We also know that we are not the only ones being targeted in this moment. Our Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian American neighbors are facing bigotry, threats, and violence – including the despicable murder of a six-year-old child this weekend outside Chicago, by a man who reportedly espoused anti-Muslim hate.

Let us be unequivocally clear: The Jewish community rejects Islamophobia, anti-Arab hate, antisemitism, and all forms of bigotry. Particularly as extremists continue to exploit this moment, we are reminded that all of our communities’ safety and futures are inextricably linked — and recommit ourselves to fighting hate in all its forms.

We stand in solidarity with all our neighbors under threat, and urge our elected and civic leaders, law enforcement, schools and universities, and employers to make clear there will be zero tolerance for any act of hate.