Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, issued the following statement in the wake of yesterday’s violent attacks upon Asian Americans in the Atlanta area and the recent increase in attacks against the American Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community:

“What happened in Atlanta last night was senseless and tragic, and a terrible blow to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost 4,000 violent crimes and hateful incidents against the AAPI community have been recorded by Stop AAPI Hate. These attacks must stop. Americans of all faiths and ethnicities must join together to do everything we can to put an end to hate and help our neighbors, especially as we work together to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Orthodox Union extends our prayers and sympathy to the families of the victims of these attacks and we stand in solidarity with the AAPI community.”