'Racism In Every Form Must Be Stopped'; Tree Of Life Congregation Speaks Out Against The Death Of George Floyd

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- As protests continue across the City of Pittsburgh speaking out against the death of George Floyd, the Tree of Life congregation is speaking out against his death as well.

A statement released on behalf of the congregation can be seen below:

Tree of Life Congregation is horrified by the murder of George Floyd. We reach out to our African-American friends in this time of pain as our country grieves his death and condemns the scourge of systemic racism.

Our Declaration of Independence states: "…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…" These words are derived from the book of Genesis, where our Creator created all humanity in the Divine Image. If these words are to have meaning, we must move beyond them being a dream for some and make them a reality for all people.

Racism in every form must be stopped.

Tree of Life Congregation Jeffrey Myers released a statement of his own in addition.

"All of us at the Tree of Life are shocked by yet another senseless death and the acts of violence behind the 'H' word which has continued for far too long in America. Together, we must work even harder to obliterate racism, starting with eliminating 'H' in our lives. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote in his 1963 book 'Strength to Love': 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.' All of us have the capacity to love more especially at a time like this. If we all did just one thing out of love to eliminate racism, that would be a great start."