It is hard to put into words how many of us feel following a weekend in which we witnessed white supremacists and neo-Nazis marching openly in America, leaving violence and tragedy in their wake.

Regardless of where we each stand politically, we can ALL agree: hatred, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry and violence cannot be tolerated in our communities.  

When our civic and faith values are threatened in this way, we must draw strength from our diversity and remain committed to fighting for inclusion, equality, liberty and justice for all.

Over the past two days, many people have shared the powerful words of the late Elie Wiesel, who said: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” In the same vein, it was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

We cannot be silent in the face of hatred. Instead, we must raise our voices and declare, both in words and in action, that what unites us in our shared humanity and rich diversity is greater than what divides us. 

By living in service of this ideal, we can move past hate and begin to heal.