30 Oct Statement Condemning the Attack on a Synagogue in Pittsburgh
The Board of Directors of Lambda Phi Epsilon, on behalf of our staff and members, condemn the cowardly attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh in the strongest terms. We condemn anti-semitism, and we condemn the notion that the way one chooses to live one’s life is a pretext for persecution. Antisemitism stands in stark contrast to our own values, and to the most basic principles of our country; a place that so many of our ancestors came to in order to flee this type of persecution and violence.
There are no words to adequately express the grief that we feel for those who were murdered simply for practicing their faith. Members of Lambda Phi Epsilon aspire to live their authentic lives, and so it is intolerable for us to see members of an often-marginalized community murdered for living theirs.
We share in mourning those who were murdered, and we pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured, but we must move beyond thoughts and prayers. Hatred does not exist in a vacuum—we cannot merely condemn acts of violence without addressing the ideas that cause violence, and confronting the individuals that perpetuate it.
Lambda Phi Epsilon is committed to building a world where all people may live their authentic lives free from fear, persecution, and violence. To do that we must work to build communities that are welcoming of all people, regardless of skin color, race, religion, orientation, or identity. We must live our values—chief among them, courageous leadership—and speak out against hatred and bigotry whenever and wherever we see it.
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About Lambda Phi Epsilon
Founded in 1981 at Los Angeles, California, Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc. has grown to become the world’s largest Asian-interest fraternity. Lambda Phi Epsilon (ΛΦΕ, also known as LFE) aims to guide men on a lifelong discovery of authenticity and personal growth. To learn more, visit https://lambdaphiepsilon.com.
Lambda Phi Epsilon Contact
James Gaffney
Executive Director
Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc.
jim.gaffney@lambdaphiepsilon.org
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