RI Joins U.S. Humanitarian and Development Organizations in Denouncing Discrimination and Intolerance

As American faith-based and secular organizations working to end poverty, hunger, disease, and injustice in every part of the world, we unequivocally condemn the recent horrendous attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It has become clear that the anti-Semitic assailant who committed the massacre was also motivated to spread hatred and disinformation about HIAS, an InterAction member organization that works to provide welcome, safety and freedom to refugees. We stand in solidarity with HIAS and reaffirm our commitment to communities everywhere that are targets of hatred.

Unfortunately, some organizations within our sector have experience with being the targets of hatred because of their faith-based or humanitarian operating principles. These American institutions have functioned successfully for many years and play a critical role in providing development and relief to individuals domestically and abroad. As a broad community reflecting the diversity of America, we, as members of InterAction, view any act of aggression on one of our organizations as an attack on all. Such attacks undercut our entire community’s ability to assist people in need.

The violence in Pittsburgh reminds us to not leave anyone behind in the face of intolerance. The acceleration of discrimination and intolerance must be halted and reversed. Such hatred runs counter to our values as Americans, hurts our sector’s efforts to address growing global needs and erodes our nation’s integrity. Together, we deeply mourn the lives lost at the Tree of Life synagogue, and we resolve to intensify our work to ensure that organizations like ours can continue to help the communities we serve.

1. 1,000 Days

2. ACDI/VOCA

3. Action Against Hunger

4. Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA)

5. Alliance to End Hunger

6. American Jewish World Service

7. American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa (ARAHA)

8. Americares

9. Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA

10. Bethany Christian Services

11. BOMA Project

12. BRAC USA

13. Bread for the World

14. CARE

15. Catholic Relief Services

16. Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University

17. Child Aid

18. ChildFund International

19. Embrace Relief Foundation

20. Episcopal Relief & Development

21. Food for the Hungry

22. Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

23. Habitat for Humanity

24. Heartland Alliance International

25. Heifer International

26. Helen Keller International

27. HelpAge USA

28. Helping Hand for Relief and Development

29. Holt International

30. Humentum

31. INMED Partnerships for Children

32. InterAction

33. International Center for Not-for-Profit Law

34. International Development Community, and Environment, Clark University

35. International Eye Foundation

36. International Medical Corps

37. International Rescue Committee

38. International Youth Foundation USA

39. Islamic Relief USA

40. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA

41. Keystone Human Services International

42. Lutheran World Relief

43. Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

44. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development

45. Norwegian Refugee Council USA

46. ONE Campaign

47. Orion Associates

48. Oxfam America

49. PATH

50. Physicians for Peace

51. PLAN International

52. Planet Aid

53. Plant With Purpose

54. Project C.U.R.E.

55. Project HOPE

56. Refugees International

57. ReSurge International

58. Rise Against Hunger

59. Save the Children

60. Solidarity Center

61. SPOON

62. The Hunger Project

63. U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

64. UNICEF USA

65. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

66. United Methodist Church, General Board of Global Ministries

67. Water for South Sudan

68. WaterAid America

69. WEEMA International

70. WellShare International

71. Women for Women International

72. World Learning

73. World Vision

74. Zakat Foundation of America