BRATTLEBORO — Welcome into this circle of light. Thank you for coming here tonight to gather to create warmth and light.
Thank you for setting aside space in your heart and in your evening to come here to honor the dead in Pittsburgh. Thank you for gathering together at a time when it feels so very dangerous to do that.
I pulled this event together quickly, not meaning to offend or leave anyone out. I needed a place to put my grief, my heartache, my creeping sense of dread and hopelessness.
And I didn't want our community to lose this moment for immediate grief and expressed outrage. I didn't want us to be on to the next news cycle. I wanted my community to come together immediately to denounce anti-Semitism.
We must come together as Jews and non-Jews to publicly condemn this hatred. We must get strength from one another to be brave, to continue to be courageous, in the face of horrible hatred and violence.
I am so heartened by this turnout. We will create healing together.
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For the families of the victims of the horrific massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue:
We stand with you.
For all the people in our own community and throughout Vermont who have been victims of anti-Semitic harassment:
We stand with you.
For the family of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was so brutally murdered:
We stand with you.
For the trans folks in our community and across this state who have been targeted because of their basic identity:
We stand with you.
For all the people of color in our community and around our state who have endured racism and white supremacism:
We stand with you.
For members of our LGBTQ community who endure harassment and hatred simply for their identity:
We stand with you.
For all the journalists who have been targeted as enemies of the people:
We stand with you
For all those community members who have endured any physical violence:
We stand with you.
For those in emotional pain:
We stand with you.
For those who are feeling lost and alone:
We stand with you.
For those who have felt unwelcome in this community or in this state:
We stand with you.
For those who wish for a better community, a better state:
We stand with you.
For those who are fighting for justice in all its forms:
We stand with you.