(DENVER) – JEWISHcolorado, the ADL Mountain States Region, and the Jewish Community Relations Council stand with the community of Buffalo, New York where ten people have been murdered and three others injured at a grocery store in what authorities are calling an act of “racially motivated violent extremism.” According to news reports, 13 people were shot in the attack, 11 of them Black. Of those shot, ten have died. The alleged shooter, an 18-year-old white male, apparently posted a manifesto online before the shooting and encouraged further attacks. The shooter was taken into custody by Buffalo law enforcement.

Findings collected by the ADL’s Center on Extremism and Secure Community Network’s Duty Desk include details of the 180-page manifesto which apparently included extensive white supremacist and antisemitic statements. In the manifesto, the shooter outlines his white supremacist, racist, and antisemitic beliefs and cites a conspiracy theory popular among extremist networks, known as the “White Replacement Theory.” The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime and the FBI is assisting.

Rabbi Jay Strear, President and CEO of JEWISHcolorado, said in a statement,

We grieve with the Buffalo community, with the Black community in Colorado, and express our outrage at this senseless violence and devastating loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families at this difficult time.

Scott Levin, ADL Mountain States Regional Director stated,

It appears that the individual who allegedly carried out the horrific attack was influenced by white supremacist ideology and adhered to the antisemitic and racist ‘Great Replacement’ conspiracy theory. We express sympathy to the African American community and call on all people to speak out against such hate.

We encourage anyone to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement. Additionally, any antisemitic incidents should be reported to the local office of the ADL at www.adl.org/reportincident,  as well as to JEWISHcolorado’s Regional Security Advisor, Phil Niedgringhaus at 303-941-5420 or pniedringhaus@securecommunitynetwork.org.

Signed,

Rabbi Jay Strear, President & CEO, JEWISHcolorado
Rob Kaufmann, Board Chair, JEWISHcolorado
Matt Most, Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council
Scott L. Levin, Regional Director, ADL
Elisa Moran, ADL Regional Board Chair
Phil Niedringhaus, Regional Security Advisor, SCN

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