I should have posted this yesterday, but I was so depressed and impatient that I overlooked it.
The following message is taken from an email that Never Again Action sent to me:
Five years ago today, a white supremacist opened fire on Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in my hometown of Pittsburgh, killing 11 people, including a friend from my congregation, Dor Hadash. Today in Pittsburgh and here at NAA, our hearts are heavy as we remember all the victims, loved ones, and the entire Jewish community and all the ways this massacre may have affected you. May their memories be a blessing. May our hearts find peace.
As a Jewish‐led organization that works in solidarity with the immigrant rights movement, it's important that we call attention to the shooter's motivations and ideologies:
The shooter, like many other white supremacists, believed in the Great Replacement Theory — the idea that there is a plot to replace white people with nonwhite immigrants and other populations of color — and that Jews are behind it. And he resorted to violence to assault my congregation for their immigrant advocacy work.
In the last five years, we have seen the Great Replacement theory fuel other similar tragedies — in El Paso, in Buffalo, in Christchurch, New Zealand. In Charlottesville, we remember the torches and chanting of "Jews will not replace us!" as the news and our politicians mainstream this white supremacist propaganda — inciting [neo]fascist violence over fear of "invasions'' and "caravans," or "immigrants are coming to take our jobs."
As we reflect on five years ago, it becomes clearer every day that antisemitism, anti‐immigrant hate, racism, and Islamophobia are inextricably tied.
I remember how powerful it felt to greet our Muslim neighbors as they stood guard outside our services after the shooting. They knew the need for our communities to share this struggle. We must avoid efforts to divide us — white supremacists are counting on that. My congregation has faced both the reality and ongoing fear of this victimization and continues their dedication to tikkun olam in welcoming the stranger. We've bravely embraced both our identities and values in recognizing our solidarity with immigrants and refugees—because that is exactly what will keep us all safe.
That is why I'm here with Never Again Action—because I refuse to let fear of antisemitism keep me from my responsibilities as a Jew and a human to see beyond our ethnicities, backgrounds or borders. Being part of this community gives me that strength. Thank you for making this community possible as we mourn and keep organizing today. Pittsburgh feels your support, and we are so grateful.
In solidarity,
Symone Saul, NAA Membership/Field Organizer