For Immediate Release: June 15, 2017
Contact: Melanie Roth Gorelick, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
mgorelick@thejcpa.org; 212-684-6953

New York, NY -The Jewish Council for Public Affairs strongly condemns the senseless shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise and several capitol police during baseball practice yesterday.    

We pray for the full recovery of all victims. 

The shootings are yet another reminder of the importance of reinforcing our democratic  pluralist ethos and a political culture of respect.    

We call on our public officials, civic and religious leaders to do all we can can to embrace our differences.  America is made up of diversity: diverse opinions, cultures, ethnicities, races, and religions.   

"Political violence has no place in a democracy," stated David Bernstein, president and CEO of JCPA. "Our only response is to advance the kind of society in which such acts become unthinkable. We've got a ways to go."

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The mission of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs is to lead, support, shape, coordinate and represent the Jewish community relations movement in order to advance the interests of the Jewish people, support Israel’s quest for peace and security, and promote a just American society and world. JCPA represents 125 local Jewish Community Relations Councils and 16 national Jewish agencies.