Thursday, May 27, 2021, San Francisco -- The San Francisco Interfaith Council Board of Directors, our constituent congregations, judicatories, religious-based schools and healthcare institutions, along with our faith-based social service agencies, share in our Bay Area community's collective grief over the senseless and horrific loss of life in the shootings that occurred on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA) in San Jose. We pray for the souls of the nine victims who perished, their families and loved ones who grieve and those traumatized by this attack.
Sadly, this attack is yet another in a long series of tragedies perpetrated by those who have access to and use guns as weapons against innocent and helpless victims. The necessity to issue statements such as this will only cease when the root cause of such violence is seriously and responsibly addressed. The SFIC values its longstanding relationship with the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and today looks to this respected organization for guidance on constructive ways to respond to this tragic event. We invite you to view the Brady Center's recommendations and share them with your congregants by way of your social and other media outlets. The time is now for communities of faith and their leaders to stand together with a strong, unified and prophetic voice and call for an end to gun violence.
