AIPAC sent a letter to its African American members this past Sunday expressing solidarity with the Black community in wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. 

“We are living through a painful time in our country. Like you, we are horrified by the violent death of George Floyd and are angry, sad and hurt over the inequities that still exist in our country,” AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr and co-chief executive Richard Fishman wrote in the letter, obtained by Jewish Insider, that was addressed to “our African American outreach family.”

“When a member of our family is attacked, we are all attacked. When a member of our family is in pain, we are all in pain,” the letter reads. “Racism, intolerance and inequality must have no place in our country.” 

Thanking the African-American community for its support for Israel, AIPAC signed off the letter saying, “We want you to know that we are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you and the Black community in the face of these tragedies and in your enduring struggle for the same rights and respect to which all Americans are entitled.” 

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, of which AIPAC is one of 50 members, issued a joint statement on Wednesday calling for “an end to the scourge of racism that led to George Floyd’s death, an end to senseless bigotry, xenophobia, and antisemitism, as well as an end to civil unrest, and a return to mutual engagement, constructive dialogue, and building coalitions.”