Washington, DC – In the wake of the shooting at Brown University and the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney, Australia, J Street U’s National Board has issued the following statement:
“Over the weekend, students across the country – and our Jewish and broader communities – have faced unimaginable violence and loss. As J Street U students, we are grappling with fear, grief and anger, and with the stark reality of the world we are inheriting.
Our hearts are with the victims, their families and the communities affected, including our peers in the J Street U Brown chapter, who sheltered in place for hours while police secured their campus. They witnessed yet another chapter in the long, tragic and preventable American story of gun violence in our schools and universities. In the despicable antisemitic violence of Sydney, we saw the lives of fifteen people, each an entire world, cut short on the first night of Hanukkah, because they were Jews. We are reminded of the fragility of our safety and the very real consequences of hatred and extremism.
May the memory of everyone killed in these horrible tragedies forever be a blessing.
As we mourn, we remain committed to building a future where no one lives in fear because of who they are. We reaffirm our dedication to promoting safety, inclusion and justice on campuses and beyond – and to combating antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and all forms of bigotry. These values define the very world we are fighting to create.
To our fellow students reeling from these events: You are not alone. Your chapter leaders, national board, coordinators and peers are here to listen, support and stand with you. Together, we can hold onto hope and continue working toward communities grounded in respect, empathy and safety.
As J Street U students, we carry forward a vision of a world shaped by understanding, not fear – a world we are determined to fight for, in the face of violence and loss, and now more than ever.”