Statement from the Community Relation Council on the election

Last Tuesday [Nov. 8], the citizens of our great state and nation elected officials to lead us with wisdom and compassion and to guide and properly shape our country.

The Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island congratulates all who were victorious including President-Elect Donald J. Trump.  We also thank those who ran for office but were defeated.

Much of the rhetoric spoken during this campaign season has been hateful. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that.” We call on all those newly elected to restore civility and unite our nation so that we may all prosper and live in a world that is safe and secure.

In the spirit of tikkun olam, we call upon our President-elect and members of Congress to assure the nation, particularly the most vulnerable, that the country will live up to its highest ideals and respect the rights of all people. It is not just the responsibility of our government to bring the nation together; it is our responsibility, as members of this great country, to work together on issues of importance including civil rights, social justice, and our environment.

The Community Relations Council is committed to stand with and work beside others who share these values. We will continue to defend the civil liberties of every American including the poor, marginalized and defenseless.

We must not and cannot ignore any form of hate, prejudice and/or bias. This includes anti-Semitism, racism, Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry that have been on the rise. Let us follow the example set by Roger Williams who founded our great state based on the principles of peaceful coexistence and tolerance.

Our state motto is Hope.  Let us all hope that our nation comes together to promote the civil rights of all and build a much stronger community whose purpose is peace.

Sincerely,

Richard Glucksman

Community Relations chair

Marty Cooper

Community Relations director

Cara Mitnick

Government Relations

co-chair

Ken Orenstein

Government Relations

co-chair