October 28, 2018

Standing in solidarity

We write to express the horror and sorrow of the entire Stanford community at yesterday’s attack on worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

This senseless massacre has brought shock and pain to members of the Jewish community everywhere, including here on our campus. Our profound sympathy and unwavering support go out to the families and loved ones of the victims, and also to all members of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, across our nation, and here at Stanford.

An act so heinous requires special condemnation from all people of goodwill in our community and across our nation. It also provides yet another troubling reminder of the presence of hatred, intolerance, anti-Semitism, and bigotry in our country today.

The attack on Saturday was particularly violent and deadly. But with distressing regularity, we are seeing attacks of many kinds on people in our country based on their identity. Challenging such attacks, rejecting them in their prejudice and narrow-mindedness, and promoting reasoned models of seeking understanding across difference are imperatives for all of us.

We stand in solidarity with those who feel under attack today. We deeply value and support every member of our community, of every background and identity, here at Stanford. And we affirm our commitment to counter hatred in our nation, and to promote the fundamental values of our university and our nation that call for tolerance and mutual respect.