CJPIP Steering Committee Statement on Violence and Repression

May 25, 2025

Last Wednesday, we stood with Jewish Voice for Peace at a vigil at Chicago’s Israeli Consulate. Our hearts broke as we read the names and held photographs of some of the thousands of beloved Palestinian children who have been murdered by Israel’s immoral reign of state terror against the Palestinian people. Between the endless bombing and the relentless campaign of starvation, the situation of the people of Gaza has never been more catastrophic.

Thursday morning, we learned of the tragic murder of two staff members of the Israeli Embassy outside of the Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. in a premeditated act of individual terror. By targeting individuals at this Jewish museum, the gunman's actions echo past attacks at other cultural and religious institutions. This was an immoral, criminal act that has no place in our unrelenting struggle for peace, justice, and equality for Palestinians and Israelis and for people in the U.S. who are increasingly facing injustice and repression.

It is essential that our unequivocal condemnation of the murders in Washington D.C does not eclipse our consistent demand for an end to the genocide in Gaza, the release of all hostages and political prisoners, and full humanitarian aid.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been murdered. Tens of thousands more are buried in rubble or are critically injured. An entire population is being deliberately starved. The crimes against humanity continue to reverberate in our communities here in the U.S., making us all less safe.

We are aware that the murders in Washington may be used as a pretext to increase the accelerating repression of the Palestine solidarity movement and of free speech, due process, and other constitutional guarantees. We will continue to resist such repression and call on other supporters of justice and freedom to do so as well.

Steering Committee, Committee for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel (CJPIP)