Senator Mayer's Statement on the Mass Shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

"As a lifelong New Yorker and a Jewish legislator, I am profoundly distraught about the mass shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. My heart goes out to the families of the victims grieving this unspeakable anti-Semitic attack. The growing hatred toward "others" in our country is a terrifying reality that we must face head-on. We are a nation of all different religions, races, ethnicities and backgrounds, and we derive our strength from this diversity. Those national public figures who use our differences to divide us and turn us against one another are wielding fear for their own political ends and disregarding the public good. We must stand up to the rhetoric of fear and division and remind all Americans of the ideals upon which our country was founded and towards which we must continue to reach. During this difficult time, we cannot fight hatred with hatred. We must learn to speak respectfully with those we disagree and find a path forward in the bright light of tolerance and acceptance among all Americans," said State Senator Shelley B. Mayer.