CRLMC Statement on the Massacre in Buffalo and Extremist Rhetoric

May 20, 2022 | The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago condemns the racist massacre at Tops Market in Buffalo this past Saturday. We are horrified that African Americans shopping in their own neighborhood were executed solely because of their race. We mourn those who died and honor those who sought to defend them against such senseless hatred. We pray for comfort for the families and friends of those touched by this horrific act.

We also condemn the extremist rhetoric undergirding this violence. "Replacement theory" and other racist lies have been used to promote racial hatred. While deceitful speech is permitted under the First Amendment, a lie remains a lie.

As religious leaders, we acknowledge that truth is essential for a healthy society. We face many challenges, but we will not long survive if we substitute lies for facts.

Our freedom and our democracy depend on knowing and telling the truth.

Truth also requires us to acknowledge that this is asymmetric extremism. Sowing lies that continue to have destructive effects on our communities and abetting their circulation deserve every condemnation. Therefore, we call on all who profit from purveying these hateful lies, including members of the media, to stop repeating and spreading a destructive fiction that leads directly to violence. 

We also cannot allow officeholders to reap the harvest of this distrust. Therefore, we call on all elected leaders of every party to condemn replacement theory and similar extremist doctrines categorically and publicly. We call on all elected leaders to rebuke commentators and public officials for promoting these ideas.

Let us have the courage to speak up and speak out whenever we see hate, whenever we hear falsehoods. Until we search and reform our own hearts and pledge to speak the truth, we cannot hope to end the violence hate causes.

* CRS is a member of CRLMC