The rising tide of racism and xenophobia in the U.S. as a result of the Israel-Gaza conflict is having a profound effect on individuals and communities in our nation. There have been, and continue to be, countless acts of hatred, violence, and doxxing directed at Jewish, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian people, especially in college and university campuses, that have resulted in members of these communities being attacked, assaulted, and living in fear for their safety.

The National Diversity Council has released the following statement calling for unity and peace among all cultures and nationalities.

The National Diversity Council condemns all acts of hatred, racism and bias, including Islamophobia, antisemitism and xenophobia.

As a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, we call upon our nation to recognize that our common and shared humanity demands respect for individual dignity as our core belief. We call for unity against bigotry. We also call for everyone to take a stand against all acts of violence and systemic biases. Nobody should be targeted based on their heritage, nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability and any other traits. Hatred has no place in our hearts, workplaces and communities.

As leaders and employers, we must commit to creating a space for dialogue, processing pain, and raising awareness, especially for our affected stakeholders and employees. We urge employers to provide concrete support and resources to their employees, including a toolkit that has been developed by our partner, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders USA.

Now is a time to embrace all communities and unite for justice. As a country, we must stand for humanity, peace and dignity for all.