Public Statement Denouncing White Supremacist Terrorist Actions in Charlottesville, Virginia

The following is a public statement by the Dominican Sisters Conference speaking out against the supremacist terrorism in Charlottesville and below there are links to additional public statements.

We, the Dominican Sisters Conference, representing approximately 6,000 Catholic Sisters and their associates across the United States, join our voice with the many across the United States who denounce the acts of white supremacist terrorism in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017.

As Christians and as Americans we are deeply grieved, outraged and troubled by the President’s most recent actions which clearly demonstrate that he is leading the country down a path of increasing hatred and violence. We need to call this violence for what it is and acknowledge that different forms of white supremacy have led to a perpetuation of inequality economically, socially, politically, in education, in health care, and legally under the law for African Americans since 1619. Hate groups such as the KKK have no place in American society.

Under the banner of free speech, hate speech is nothing more than hate and is not American. It is against everything we value as Americans, whether Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or atheist. We call on President Trump to reconsider his recent statements that have contributed to division and violent confrontation.

We call upon the members of congress to exercise their constitutional authority to demand that the President reverse course immediately and stand against every expression of hatred, bigotry, and violence. As women of faith, we add our voice to those calling for an end to racist violence in our country and pray that all embrace the reality that each of us is created in the image of God.

We cannot remain silent for silence is consent.  As Dominicans, we hearken to the words of our Dominican Saint Catherine of Siena, “Preach the truth as if you had a million voices. It is silence that kills the world!”

We commit ourselves to promote nonviolence.