Today, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) issued a statement expressing solidarity with the black community, signed by 130 organizations in the Jewish community relations network across the country. Signatories are pledging to work in partnership with the black community to help institute sweeping changes to law enforcement and end systemic racism.

“The recent murder of George Floyd is a pivotal moment in our country’s history, and we will not sit idly by in the face of the killings of Black men and women by law enforcement and vigilantes. JCPA is more committed than ever to pursuing justice, accountability, and systemic reform,” said David Bernstein, JCPA’s President and CEO. “Our organizations will continue working with the black community to end systemic racism and for transformative change in law enforcement and criminal justice at the local, state and national levels.”

JCPA, Jewish community relations councils (JCRCs), national member agencies, and other signatories will be sharing the Statement of Solidarity with leaders in the black community. Click here for the full pledge and list of signers.

Statement of Solidarity

We, the undersigned, are outraged at the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

We stand in solidarity with the black community that has for far too long been targeted by police and have suffered rampant racism and unfair and uneven applications of the law

We call upon our government and law enforcement at the national, state, and local levels to fully investigate and hold accountable all the involved officers and to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

We call upon our government and law enforcement agencies at every level to institute sweeping reforms in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

We pledge to join forces with the black community and other Americans to see through these changes to law enforcement, end systemic racism, and work for a more just American society.