Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned political violence as “completely unacceptable” after a deadly attack on Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., and said that the crime does not reflect or represent the millions of Americans peacefully advocating for an end to U.S. support for the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.
Last night, a shooter opened fire on two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., killing both. He reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” after the shooting and posted a manifesto admitting responsibility for the attack and condemning the Israeli military’s conduct in Gaza.
In a statement, CAIR said:
“We condemn last night’s deadly attack on Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C.
“While millions of Americans feel extreme frustration at the sight of the Israeli government slaughtering Palestinian men, women and children on a daily basis with weapons paid for with our taxpayer dollars, political violence is an unacceptable crime and is not the answer.
“Such violence only undermines the pursuit of justice. Peaceful protest, civil disobedience and political engagement are the only appropriate and acceptable tools to advocate for policy change in our nation, including an end to U.S. support for the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.”
CAIR San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) Executive Director Zahra Billoo added:
“No cause for justice is served by this kind of violence. This deadly attack must be condemned without hesitation. Just as importantly, it must not be used to discredit the millions advocating for Palestinian freedom through peaceful, principled means. Our movement is rooted in moral clarity, even as we confront profound injustice. Targeting individuals is not only wrong, it undermines the urgent work of ending genocide and demanding accountability.”
