Bend the Arc Statement on the Release of All Hostages in Colleyville, Texas
"During this long day and night we have taken comfort in solidarity."
Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action released the following statement on Saturday evening in response to all four hostages at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas being released and safe:
"We are grateful that all hostages at Congregation Beth Israel have been released and we send our prayers for peace and healing to them, their families, their congregation, and their community.
During this long day and night, Jewish people across the country have taken comfort in the outpouring of support for our community from our neighbors of Muslim, Christian, and other faiths who stood united in condemning this attack and antisemitism in all forms.
Today we have felt the all too familiar sinking in our hearts, the outrage and horror of witnessing yet another antisemitic attack on a synagogue on Shabbat. Whether we are walking down the streets of our neighborhoods or through the doors of our holy spaces, no one should experience fear or be targeted for their faith.
We worry that in the days ahead there will be those who try to use our community's pain and trauma to fuel division or incite violence against other communities -- we will not let them. We will reject any attempt, rooted in anti-Muslim bigotry, to hold an entire community responsible for the actions of one individual.
We are sending our love to Jewish communities in Colleyville and across the country. We all deserve to be safe in our places of worship and in this country, where every single one of us belongs."