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