It is a sad day when we feel compelled to make a statement that we are against bigotry, hatred and violence. We believe citizenship is about making small contributions every day in how we speak, work, and live alongside one another towards living in a society absent of these evils. But, as the events of the past week have shown: there is much work to be done.

We express our sincerest condolences to the families of the Tree of Life Synagogue, first responders and the Jewish Community. We feel deep sorrow for what is inexplicably only the latest in a string of communities confronted with violence in places of peace. Our houses of worship, classrooms, and communities have become the front lines of extremism and have been witness to unspeakable horrors.

We are also deeply concerned over events of this past week as political leaders, regardless of partisan affiliation, have become targets of violence. Civil society depends on the open, honest debate of ideas that can compete without fear or retribution. Our democracy demands our capacity to disagree without making enemies of one another.

And, we must recognize recent efforts to marginalize the transgender community – to define a group of fellow citizens as outside of regular society. Our hearts and minds are open enough to recognize that we are more similar than different and have the capacity to recognize ourselves in others.

We stand firmly beside those communities that have historically been the first targets of violence and extremism – our Jewish, Muslim, LGBT+, immigrant and politically dissenting neighbors – and arm in arm with all who seek peace, equity, civil political discourse and the common good. We can only hope that strengthening our communities through commitment to one another will get us past recent events – and ensure they are just dark moments that do not define our future.