NWSA releases "Statement Against Anti-Semitic Violence"

On Monday October 29, 2018, the National Women's Studies Association released a "Statement Against Anti-Semitic Violence." The Cal Poly Department of Women's & Gender Studies is an institutional member of the National Women's Studies Association. A copy of the NWSA statement is shared below.

NWSA Statement Against Anti-Semitic Violence
October 29, 2018

As an organization of feminist scholars, NWSA embraces the dignity and humanity of all people, and condemns acts of violence and state policies that compromise that principle.

We are outraged and deeply saddened by the carnage that occurred in Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018 in which 11 people were killed at a synagogue before Shabbat services. This despicable act apparently carried out by one lone gunman filled with anti-Semitic hate and paranoia, however, occurs in a political climate where racism, white supremacy, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are on the rise, condoned directly and indirectly at the highest levels of the government. While the gunman in Pittsburgh criticized Trump, he borrowed language that has been deployed by the president attacking immigrants and celebrating white nationalism.

Acts of violence like this one are steeped in a kind of toxic masculinity that seeks to dominate or destroy those deemed inferior in some way. While we do not know the personal history of the shooter in this case, we do know that one common fact shared by many mass shooters is a history of domestic violence. Thus violence toward women becomes a dress rehearsal for mass violence toward other targeted groups.

NWSA sends its condolences to the families and victims of the Pittsburgh shootings and pledge to continue to use our collective voice and platform to speak out against violence, hate and injustice.

SIGNED by the NWSA EC [Executive Committee] with affiliations*
 
Barbara Ransby, President, University of Illinois - Chicago
Elora Chowdhury, Vice President, University of Massachusetts - Boston
Patti Duncan, Secretary, Oregon State University
Karma R. Chávez, Treasurer, University of Texas - Austin
 
(*affiliations for identification purposes only)