Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign Statement on the Deadly Shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego
[The following statement was issued on May 19, 2026 by the Shoulder to Shoulder campaign, of which the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ are founding members.]
As a national multifaith coalition, the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign unequivocally condemns the tragic, deadly violence committed at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and joins the greater San Diego community in solidarity and prayers for safety and healing.
This shooting targeting San Diego’s largest mosque comes in the wake of heightened anti-Muslim rhetoric, including from elected officials. In recent months, politicians and public voices have stoked fear and spread misinformation about American Muslims, often casting them in dehumanizing ways and even claiming they do not belong in the country. When this kind of hateful rhetoric is normalized, it lays the groundwork for violence and places entire communities at risk. While details are still emerging about the San Diego shooting, three Muslim community members have been killed and authorities are investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
As people of faith, we affirm that every person possesses inherent dignity and we reject language which dehumanizes anyone — whether it is used to fuel violence here at home or to justify war abroad. Here in the U.S., where religious freedom and freedom of conscience are founding ideals, everyone deserves to worship and go to school safely, no matter their faith or cultural background. No one should fear violence when they walk into their place of prayer or learning.
We pray that this tragedy awakens the conscience of those who have perpetuated and condoned the harmful and dehumanizing narratives about Muslims that have become so prevalent. As members of our coalition declared in a prayerful appeal to leaders on Capitol Hill this spring, “The promise of equality, freedom, liberty, dignity, justice in America is not just for some, but for all… We reject the scapegoating of our Muslims neighbors and we call on our elected leaders, fellow faith leaders, and all people of goodwill to stand shoulder to shoulder.”
We mourn with the community of the Islamic Center of San Diego and Muslim communities who are feeling this impact just days before Eid-al-Adha. As people of faith working to address hate among us and build more pluralistic communities, we commit to holding our standard of dignity, respect, and fairness for all of us, no exceptions. We call upon all people of faith and goodwill to interrupt harmful and dehumanizing narratives whenever we encounter it among us.