Three days after a gunman shot and killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, immigrants and lawmakers in Ohio are calling for an end to bigotry in America.
The two-day US Together conference is dedicated to helping refugees overcome the trauma they’ve suffered in their lives and integrate into their new country. US Together’s co-founding director, Nadia Kasvin, is a Jewish refugee herself, having escaped Ukraine 25 years ago.
Kasvin moderated a panel on the first day of the conference during which refugees shared their experiences adjusting to life in America and tips on how to help mitigate the trauma some refugees experience when they come here. It is the second time US Together has held a conference in the past few years.
After the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh this past weekend, Ohio’s Senior U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown asked to come and address the professionals in attendance. Brown’s remarks were brief. He shared a couple of stories and thanked the professionals for what they are doing to help refugees and immigrants struggling to adapt.
“Your work means so much to all of us in this country, and when I say all of us, I mean an overwhelming percentage of this country that is sickened about what’s happened in Louisville, and Pittsburgh, and these bombs, and in Charlottesville, and so much else,” Brown said.
Brown also called on President Donald Trump to end his attacks on people through his rhetoric and to begin to heal the country. Specifically, Brown asked Trump to acknowledge white supremacy, racism, anti-Semitism and misogyny for what they are and said despite the recent tragedies and tensions, he still has hope.
“I do have a lot of faith in this country,” Brown said. “I do have a lot of faith in our resilience in pushing back on hatred whether it’s coming from the top or whether it’s a crazed man in Pittsburgh that succumbs to these awful, awful, dark demons of hatred.”
After a round of handshaking and picture taking, the conference resumed with the day’s keynote speaker. Kasvin shared her thoughts on what has been happening in our country for the past few years.
Not only have fewer refugees been let into the country, but she said rhetoric about immigrants and refugees is causing difficulties in communities here in Ohio and across the nation.
“Every tweet, every news cycle, every hateful remark [is] re-traumatizing people,” Kasvin said. “We try to bring people together, and what I want from our president is to do the same work; to bring people together so that we can appreciate each other more.”
Kasvin said refugees and immigrants are not invaders and shouldn’t be treated as such.
She also said sometimes it feels like progress is being made, and then when events like what happened in Pittsburgh occur, she is reminded this country has a long way to go.
“We often say, ‘Never again.” We need to do something about it,” said Kasvin.
Brown says more Americans ought to attend Naturalization Ceremonies and really appreciate the greatness of America that is on display there.