FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2025
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Washington, D.C. | In the wake of last night’s tragic shooting at DC’s Capital Jewish Museum, resulting in the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, ADC urges vigilance against knee-jerk demands for crackdowns, collective punishment, or disproportionate action. Time and again, powerful actors seize on moments like these to expand oppressive measures, stifling speech and dissent under the guise of “security.” We urge all people of conscience to resist these manipulations and uphold the freedoms we cherish.
We take this moment to also warn against efforts to demonize the Palestinian liberation movement based on the violent deeds of a lone individual. The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, reportedly shouted “Free, free Palestine” after being taken into custody, but that heinous crime neither represents the broader aspirations of Palestinians nor justifies labeling an entire community as “demons” or “terrorists.” Such rhetoric only inflames hatred and invites more violence.
Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab hate all stem from the same root: fear and manufactured distrust. We are not each other’s enemies—our shared humanity demands we see beyond the lines drawn to divide us. Yet, time and again, those most responsible for the violence we endure—those who profit from war, incite hatred, and sow division—escape accountability. Justice keeps slipping further from their reach, while the people pay the price.
The death of any innocent person is never acceptable. We mourn the loss of these two young lives and call on everyone, especially those who lead our governments and shape public opinion, to respond wisely and guard against being driven apart by hate. Now is the time to stand against all forms of violence and bigotry, protect the right to speak and dissent, and work for a future in which justice prevails for all peoples.