A young man in Kansas City was killed Dec. 4 after being deliberately run over by a car in an event that is being investigated as a possible hate crime. On behalf of Shoulder to Shoulder, a national campaign of religious and interfaith organizations dedicated to ending anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States and around the world, Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah in Overland Park responded to the fatal violence and conveyed the interfaith community’s condolences for the family and solidarity with the local and national Muslim community:
“We are deeply saddened that a teenager in our community was tragically killed last week. While we do not know for certain at this point that this was a hate crime, we are grateful that the FBI is investigating it as such. Hate speech and violent hate crimes tear at the fabric of our society. An attack targeting one religious community is an attack on us all.
“As faith leaders, we stand against hate. We weep with those in our community who are weeping, and we commit ourselves to working together to build a community — both in Kansas City and nationally — that is free from bigotry and hatred. We are a wounded community, and as religious leaders, no matter what our faith, we are called to be part of the healing process.”
Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Standing with American Muslims; Upholding American Values (www.shouldertoshouldercampaign.org) is a national campaign of religious, interfaith and faith-based organizations dedicated to ending anti-Muslim sentiment. Founded in November 2010 by more than 20 national religious groups, Shoulder-to-Shoulder works locally, nationally and internationally to offer strategies for and support to efforts to address anti-Muslim sentiment.