Statement from CSSC in Response to the Attack in Grand Blanc MI 

Community Solidarity and Safety Coalition (CSSC) extends its heartfelt support and solidarity with the LDS community in the wake of the horrific shooting at a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. This attack was not only an attack on innocent individuals but on the sanctity of worship and on the fundamental right of every community to gather without fear. We condemn in the strongest terms this act of hate-fueled violence.

Chief Renée Hall, CSSC Executive Director, issued the following statement:
 

“No faith community should ever experience violence in their house of worship. This attack was an assault not only on members of the LDS Church but on the very principle of religious freedom. CSSC stands united with you in grief, in prayer, and in our determination to confront hatred with solidarity and action.”
 

“CSSC was founded out of community need and in response to the anguish we all face when sacred spaces, community centers, and most importantly, loved ones are taken from us by hate-fueled violence. We also know the power of community support and solidarity – we grieve alongside you.

To our LDS brothers and sisters: please know you are not alone. Faith leaders, interfaith partners, and community members across the country stand in solidarity with you. Additionally, we recommit ourselves to ensuring there are resources to help support houses of worship, create opportunities for connection between community partners and government alike, and that every person in our country is able to pray, gather, and worship in peace and safety.”
 

“We pray for healing for the injured, comfort for the bereaved, and strength for the church leaders guiding your community through this dark hour. At the same time, we call on all Americans to join together in rejecting religious hatred and to reaffirm our shared commitment to compassion, safety, and freedom of worship. We stand with you in determination to turn this pain into collective resolve for a more compassionate and secure future.”
 

About CSSC
 

The CSSC was launched in September 2022 by ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) and the National Urban League in advance of the White House’s United We Stand Summit, with its founding goals inspired by inter-community solidarity in the wake of the tragic shooting in Buffalo, New York – following on so many other tragedies ranging from Pittsburgh to Poway, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Charlottesville, Colleyville, and so many more. The CSSC now has 26 member organizations representing a broad swath of at-risk communities and will continue to be a mechanism for collaboration among the member CEOs and their staffs into the future.

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