The Houston Coalition Against Hate (HCAH) joins many other communities around the country in condemning the message of white supremacist groups this past weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the violence that they engendered.
We join the many voices around the nation in denouncing the hatred we saw on display, recognizing that this tragedy is not an isolated incident, but rather the manifestation of centuries of systemic violence, racism, and anti-Semitism in this country. We send our condolences to the families of Heather Heyer, Jay Cullen and Berke M. M. Bates, and we hold in our hearts those who were injured while standing up to injustice.
What happened in Charlottesville can serve as a teachable moment for Houston’s residents and leaders. As residents of one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we are proud of our city and our country’s diversity. At times like these, we must speak up, call out, and stand united against cruelty, bigotry and hate. We know that Houston is stronger when all of our communities feel safe in the expression of their unique ethnic and cultural backgrounds and we are committed to ensuring that Houston is an inclusive and welcoming city.
The Houston Coalition Against Hate is a network of community-based organizations in Houston that have come together to collectively address incidents of bias, hate, discrimination and violence against Houstonians because of their religion, race/ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and immigration status.
Signatories:
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Alliance for Compassion and Tolerance American Civil Liberties Union of Texas Anti-Defamation League – Southwest Region The Asia Society Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston The Chinese Community Center Council on American Islamic Relations – Texas Daya, Inc. Emgage Holocaust Museum Houston Houston Endowment Houston GLBT Political Caucus |
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative* Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston Justice For Our Neighbors Houston Migrant Rights Collective The Montrose Center My Brothers Keeper (MBK) Houston OCA-Greater Houston The Rothko Chapel Stardust Fund The Simmons Foundation Texas Organizing Project United We Dream – Houston University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work |
*The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative is a member of the Coalition Against Hate, which came together in part as a result of the Welcoming Houston recommendations.
