[DoofSFNYC]

Thanks for posting the website for Voices Against Hate, Joe. I'm coming at the situation completely from the outside, of course, so my opinion doesn't have to count for anything... but I don't think I would be able to belong to a group called "Voices Against Hate" and NOT speak out against this *specific* incident, in a timely and public manner. Granted, it would be better to offer a positive event or something to go along with such a statement, but that would take alot of time to organize and publicize. I truly believe in the importance of not remaining silent, even when it seems like silence would be more modest or less self-serving. Put another way, is there anyone in your RI area that IS speaking out against this specific incident? If not, who will? And how would they do so without a press-release?

I don't want to belittle your concerns about self-service and taking advantage of a tragedy. In this instance, I think it's an unavoidable consequence of putting out such a release - you can't make a statement and remain respectfully in the background at the same time. And I am not a fan of press-releases in general, if only becuase I don't think they actually DO much. BUT, the one thing they DO do, which is to get a statement out there in some form to SOME media, they do very well. Considering that your voice may be the only non-governmental, grassroots voice out there speaking about it... I think it would be immoral not to make a statement!