New York - The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) today called for our nation to resist a growing tide of anti-Islamic, Arab, and Middle Eastern sentiment in reaction to the recent acts of terrorism in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in southwestern Pennsylvania. While the entire nation and people across the globe are devastated by the human tragedy resulting from these violent acts, NCAVP is asking that in our anger we not strike out against neighbors and co-workers who may be or are perceived to be of Middle Eastern descent or of the Islamic faith.

NCAVP expresses its support and compassion for the victims of these terrible events and offers its condolences to their survivors and loved ones. We know that life will be irrevocably changed for the survivors of these attacks, and we stand by the victims of the violence and join in the calls for justice. However, NCAVP also cautions against victimizing others in our response to this devastation. It is a time for us to reach out to one another with compassion and healing and not attack others out of revenge, or because of intolerance, or misdirected anger.

As lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and people of transgender experience working day-to-day with victims of hate violence, discrimination, and bias, we know the destruction that stereotypes and reactionary violence can wreak on individual human lives and entire communities. We therefore again implore our fellow Americans to exercise restraint and tolerance. We encourage each person to seek healing and peace in their communities, in their faith, in their families and in themselves during this most troubling time for our nation and the world, and not resort to acts of violence towards our neighbors.

NCAVP addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence and harassment, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization.