CIANA at the Queens Against Hate Vigil on October 29, 2018 held by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz at Queens Borough Hall.
Astoria, NY – The Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans (CIANA) is shocked and profoundly saddened by the attacks on the Kroger Grocery Store in Louisville, Kentucky and the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These acts of hatred and violence are against the American ideals of tolerance and inclusion that bind our communities together and make us strong.
We deeply mourn the victims, and stand in solidarity with their families and with HIAS, the organization that has helped refugees settle in the U.S. for 130 years. As an immigrant-serving organization dedicated to helping new immigrants successfully integrate into American society, CIANA is proud of the wonderful diversity of the United States and the organizations that are helping refugees and immigrants resettle and make this their home. We urge all Americans to raise their voices and remind everyone that the US is the most successful experiment in multicultural living to date, providing an opportunity for citizenship, with full rights and privileges, regardless of race, creed, or gender.