CHICO, Calif., June 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) and its 28,000 college and university faculty from around the world are saddened by and condemn the violence and murder at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum last week.

That this incident occurred in a learned institution dedicated to exposing the consummate evil effects of hate and extremism is cause for further concern, reflection and action by SPME scholars and thoughtful, caring others. In addition to its important public museum, the USHMM also houses the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies which serves as an archival research and scholarship center assisting and supporting Holocaust studies around the world.

SPME extends condolences to the family of the victim, Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns, the heroic security guard killed in the line of duty defending museum visitors and researching scholars.

This incident reinforces SPME’s ongoing commitment to address issues of anti-Semitism and bigotry as well as to address issues of hatred and extremism towards Jews and others.

Adopted by the SPME Board of Directors: June 12, 2009