JCPA Horrified by Attack on LDS Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is horrified by Sunday’s attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, in which the attacker allegedly drove his truck into a church filled with hundreds of worshippers before shooting congregants and setting the building on fire — killing at least four people and wounding eight others. 

Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, shared the following statement: 

“We stand in solidarity with Grand Blanc’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and with the entire Grand Blanc and LDS community. This attack echoes many previous incidents of brutal violence at houses of worship, including Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME, Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life, Chabad of Poway, and so many more. No Americans should ever have to experience this kind of nightmarish violence – yet this attack was among 324 mass shootings in 2025 alone. This unacceptable epidemic of mass violence and hatred is growing worse, and threatens the fundamental fabric of our democracy.

“While we are still learning more about the possible motivations of this attacker, we have seen time and again a direct link between the spread of hateful conspiracy theories and dehumanizing ideas, and acts of extreme violence against faith communities and other vulnerable Americans. This moment demands a whole-of-government and society response to address polarization and increasingly normalized extremism; to restore funding for domestic extremism programs and hate crimes prevention that keep communities safe; and to build broad, cross-community coalitions to confront bigotry and hatred together.”