Everyone Deserves to Live in Safety and in Peace.

Peace Action strongly condemns the murders of Israeli diplomatic staff Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. last night. We hope that the memories of Yaron and Sarah will be a blessing and a source of comfort to all who grieve.

We believe that senseless violence, whether here at home or abroad, cannot and will not reduce the suffering and loss of life endured by millions of Palestinians in Gaza. Many of the civilians killed in Gaza remain nameless to most of us in the U.S., but all of their lives are as important as Yaron’s and Sarah’s. Now, more than ever, we call on pro-peace community members – and leaders in Congress – to stand united in opposing all violations of human rights — be it in Palestine or in our own neighborhoods. We do not yet know the exact motives of the shooter or precisely why these individuals and this venue were targeted. But we can say, categorically, that there should be no place for anti-Jewish violence or bigotry in the struggle for a more just and peaceful world.

It is time for the violence to end. It is time for the siege and bombing of Gaza to end. Only through peace, justice, and compassion can we hope to create a safer and more just world for everyone.