SWANA Alliance Statement Against Recent White Supremacist, Anti-Semitic and Anti-Black Violence
SWANA Alliance stands firmly in solidarity with the Black and Jewish communities in response to the horrific white supremacist, anti-Black and anti-Semitic attacks, at Kroger in Louisville, Kentucky and the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this week. We extend condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and commit to joint struggle with all communities affected.
We emphasize that neither of these events was random or isolated but the product of systemic oppression
Both occurred in a time of rising white nationalism and supremacy, in the wake of public and violent acts of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. These social trends have been ignored, condoned, and directly encouraged by the current American regime. This administration is harvesting xenophobia, racism, and white supremacy to further its goals and it accomplices all around the world. Both attackers said or posted on social media indicating their intent inflict violence upon these communities. Hate crimes are not merely senseless violent acts, but acts of mass violence perpetrated against already marginalized communities in order maintain a social hierarchy through fear. We reject this hierarchy and we stand with our siblings against white supremacy and white nationalism.
As a S.W.A.N.A. (South West Asian and North African) collective of members of various faith and ethnic backgrounds, we reject these acts of terrorism as we fight for the liberation of all peoples. We affirm and celebrate the diverse and layered identities of those who identify as Black and/or as Jewish, and their global struggles, as well as their position in the mosaic of SWANA communities in our homelands and in the diaspora.
