STATEMENT OF THE PEEKSKILL AREA PASTORS ASSOCIATION
REGARDING THE VIOLENT ASSAULT AGAINST JULIO SERRANO
As religious leaders of different faiths in the greater Peekskill area, we express our unequivocal outrage at the vicious and hateful attack against a member of our local community. We can only feel great sadness at this blatant disregard for human life and the dignity of all persons.
We pledge our solidarity with the Serrano family. Our prayers are with them during this most concerning time. We likewise share their call for justice for their brother, cousin and loved one and for all of the vulnerable people like him, who each day, face the fear of discrimination and violence. As people of faith, we pray also for the perpetrators, that they might come to a realization of what they have done, in a spirit of true contrition.
Our gratitude goes out to Chief Eugene Tumolo and the Peekskill Police Department for their aggressive pursuit of this case. We trust that they will continue until there is redress for Julio.
In like manner, we stand with Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster and local government officials, who have expressed their desire to take measures which address the gravity of this event and which bring both its consequences and the means to prevent further such odious activity to the forefront of public awareness.
Peekskill is an area which has welcomed immigrants for well over 150 years, who have followed their dreams to our locale. The city has also played a leading historical role in the pursuit of civil rights and freedom. This is a sad week for our community, because in our midst, a dream has been broken.
Our message is that we will not tolerate more violence, more hatred, more prejudice or more disregard for dignity of our fellow residents. We pledge our unwavering commitment to work further for justice and for change, in the spirit of God’s liberating Word.
Bishop Michael J. Champion
President
More: