The following statement was issued on June 15, 2017 by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the national network of Jewish Community Relations Councils.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs strongly condemns the senseless shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise and several capitol police during baseball practice yesterday.

We pray for the full recovery of all victims.

The shootings are yet another reminder of the importance of reinforcing our democratic  pluralist ethos and a political culture of respect.

We call on our public officials, civic and religious leaders to do all we can can to embrace our differences.  America is made up of diversity: diverse opinions, cultures, ethnicities, races, and religions.

“Political violence has no place in a democracy,” stated David Bernstein, president and CEO of JCPA. “Our only response is to advance the kind of society in which such acts become unthinkable. We’ve got a ways to go.”