“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” (– Attributed to Anne Frank)
Today we commemorate the national Days of Remembrance, established by the US Congress as the nation’s annual recognition of the Holocaust. Tell us why you #remember: https://t.co/nN52qLgiu0
— US Holocaust Museum (@HolocaustMuseum) May 2, 2019
.@HRC joins the international community to honor the six million Jews who were murdered and millions of others who were victimized, including members of the LGBTQ community, under Nazi Germany before and during World War II. #HolocaustRemembranceDayhttps://t.co/9XHQl1Gi1B
One thing important to remember is that there are fewer Jews in the world than in 1939. The Holocaust radically changed the Jewish world affects Jewish communities worldwide deeply to this day. On this #YomHaShoah, we remember those lost.
If you're not a Jew you can't even really comprehend how much of our time culturally and religiously is spent remembering and discussing all the times over the course of thousands of years people have tried to kill us.
In 2019 in the United States of America, the Jewish community still experiences life-threatening anti-Semitism:
There is a Passover song, “Zog, Maran”, which is structured as a conversation between an Ashkenazi Jew and a Sephardi Jew celebrating under the fear of persecution and murder. It ends:
We are shocked and alarmed at the second deadly attack on an American synagogue in six months, this time at Congregation Chabad in #Poway, on the last day of Passover. It must serve as another wake-up call that antisemitism is a growing and deadly menace. https://t.co/NXsREnPriwpic.twitter.com/NsyE2WpnFv
If the Jewish and Muslim communities can support one another, then others can–and must–also learn to de-escalate.
Thinking about how moved I was when so many Muslims stepped up to help their Jewish neighbours after the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh last fall. Hoping to see lots of similar acts of solidarity after the horror in #christchurch.
I know I speak for many when I write that Muslims appreciated the outpouring of love, prayers and support from our Jewish brothers and sisters after the New Zealand mosque shooting. Let us know what our communities can do to help after this latest #Poway synagogue shooting.
We are saddened and outraged to hear of the deaths of 49 Muslim worshippers at the mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. We extend our condolences to the Muslim community in New Zealand and also our Muslim neighbors locally.
A reminder to all that it is important to avoid sharing harmful imagery and materials that primarily publicize terrorist acts and terrorists. This includes the video livestreamed by the shooter, but also stills from the video. One reason is to avoid giving terrorists the publicity they crave, which can also encourage terrorist acts by others.
Another reason is to minimize traumatizing people by making exposure to images of actual violence and killings practically unavoidable as they go about their everyday lives. Traumatic material can severely affect not only those in the specific target group of the violence, but many others as well.
It’s a horrible moment right now – but I’m grateful that I haven’t seen a single photo of the shooting or crime scene or alleged shooters on my timeline. Not one. Thanks to everyone who chose not to share them.
As the above Twitter user has pointed out, instead of giving terrorists free publicity, find ways to help, locally and internationally. Some ideas from others include: showing support and solidarity online or in person, contacting local Muslim organizations to offer help, or donating to specific victim aid.
Thinking about how moved I was when so many Muslims stepped up to help their Jewish neighbours after the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh last fall. Hoping to see lots of similar acts of solidarity after the horror in #christchurch.
I suggest contacting a local mosque in your hometown or area and seeing if they're doing any kind of collection a bunch of us at work were talking about contacting the mosque in town https://t.co/Eng28J3Pe0
OPEN THREAD We want to hear from our brothers and sisters around the globe.
Tell us how you are feeling: your emotions, your thoughts, your prayers. With a good response, we can compile it in a post inshallah, to help media feel our pulse.#Christchurch#NewZealand
It’s very good to support women and be anti-sexist; it’s not okay to use racism in critiquing sexism.
It’s very good to support BIPOC and be anti-racist: it’s not okay to use anti-gay prejudice in critiquing racism.
It’s very good to support LGBTQ folks and be anti-heterosexism/transphobia: it’s not okay to use classism in critiquing heterosexism/transphobia.
It’s very good to support financially marginalized people and be anti-poverty: it’s not okay to use ableism in critiquing classism.
It’s very good to support the disability community and be anti-ableist; it’s not okay to use ageism in critiquing ableism.
It’s very good to support the agency of children and elders and be anti-ageism; it’s not okay to use fatphobia in critiquing ageism.
It’s very good to support body positivity and be anti-fatmisia; it’s not okay to use sexism in critiquing fatphobia.
You can mix these up all you want and they still apply!
If we are pointing out someone’s problematic behavior or words, we must remember not to use problematic words of our own to characterize them.
If we do, we’re not just criticizing that person, we are playing into stereotypes and making life harder for vulnerable others who are not that person. We are engaging in bigotry ourselves!
Violence is committed every day, but people in marginalized groups experience violence at considerably higher rates than majority group members, and more often simply because of who they are. For minority group members, this can lead to a pervasive (and frankly, realistic) sense of vulnerability that causes increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, especially when hate-based violence is a news event.
Jeffrey Marsh has some gentle suggestions for being supportive:
I love you very much. Please check in with your POC LGBTQ loved ones. Don’t expect or demand an answer but be around. Be available. 💛a lot of folks live with the threat of violence hanging over everything, and could use your heart today
Checking in and validating–without pressuring someone to talk or to help you to process–can be helpful, especially if you are willing to simply allow your friend or loved one to have the space to manage their feelings.
Publicly speaking out to or among other majority group members can also be helpful: for example, share a supportive post. But consider sharing a post that does NOT include graphic images or footage of violence. People who live with the threat of violence daily don’t need further exposure and may feel even more vulnerable.
It is common for PTSD symptoms to spike during times of social upheaval, especially for those who are in marginalized groups or who have abuse histories.
Nicole Sanchez, a lecturer at UC UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, has some useful insights about how we can support marginalized friends and coworkers during critical events. She’s talking about race, but much of the dynamics also apply to events affecting LGBTQ folks (and other marginalized groups).
In the past few years, I've been in the position to lead inside companies while major events, all with racism at their core, have unfolded in the news
Racism needs to be confronted in a useful way. Remember, “you don’t get points for disagreement if that disagreement happens in silence.” – J. Pavlovitz
How do you approach conversations about race at work or in the classroom? We know it can be challenging.
One year ago, we witnessed an American tragedy. Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and bigots marched through the city of #Charlottesville. Standing up against hate isn't easy. But now, more than ever, it's necessary. Here are ten ways you can fight hate. https://t.co/WeGfr6lWxx
It is common for PTSD symptoms to spike during times of social upheaval, especially for those who are in marginalized groups or who have abuse histories.
Nicole Sanchez, a lecturer at UC UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, has some useful insights about how we can support marginalized friends and coworkers during critical events. She’s talking about race, but much of the dynamics also apply to events affecting LGBTQ folks (and other marginalized groups).
In the past few years, I've been in the position to lead inside companies while major events, all with racism at their core, have unfolded in the news