UC Santa Barbara holds memorial for the victims of the Jewish attacks in Pittsburgh
The UC Santa Barbara campus remembered the 11 victims in the Pittsburgh killings last weekend in a Jewish synagogue.
“We are here today to bring strength to each other to lead with compassion and to remember the lives of 11 beautiful souls who were murdered,” said Rabbi Evan Goodman.
He called the UC Santa Barbara campus together in unity after the tragic killings and a crowd of over 300 turned out.
38 groups and departments were represented at Storke Tower for the mid day gathering.
Some of the students who were out of the country relayed what they are experiencing when it comes to religious conflicts elsewhere.
“Our UCSB students who are studying abroad right now report how they have to hide all of their outward signs of being Jewish. That is not right,” said Rabbi Goodman.
Eleven candles were lit to remember those who lost their lives in the killings.
The group united with a strong message against hate and held the hand of someone near them.
A.S. President Brooke Kopel said different groups have to find common ground, respect and peace to live together in our society otherwise “there’s gonna come a time when there’s nobody left to help somebody when something like this happens to their community. So I from the bottom of my heart thank each and every one of you and the communities that you represent”
She said this generation of UCSB students has learned there’s more of a common identity that differences. “It is only together mobilizing young people who are the future of this country that will combat that kind of narrative one day.”
Rabbi Goodman told the group, “when we are at our best we are reaching out to other people we are holding hands in a serious way getting to know each other”
UCSB Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Margaret Klawuun said,”there are so many of us who believe in love and who need to stand together and who need to speak up and who need to take to the streets and who need to vote out hate. We will not let hate win!”
For information on the evening event at Congregation B’naih B’rith go to:
https://www.keyt.com/news/a-night-of-solidarity-at-congregation-b-nai-b-rith/835017154
