We are heartbroken at  the mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso, and very troubled by yet more evidence of a deep sickness at the heart of this nation.

The young people we work with are forced to live in a culture of hate which continues churning poisonous rhetoric and making our world unsafe. Though youth are leading the movement to end white supremacy and gun violence, their efforts are thwarted by politicians and pundits who treat human beings as expendable.

We must stop the radicalization of young white men that is enabled by politicians who pander to extremists for votes.Young people are working for a time when everyone can live free from violence and fear. We must work alongside them or continue to face this violence again and again.