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13 Candles Lit For Victims

In Pennsylvania, Kentucky

Cooperstown faith leaders Rev. Dane Boston, Rev. LaDana Clark, Rev. Joseph Perdue, Rev. Elsie Rhodes, Pastor Sharon Rankins-Burd and Father John Rosson and Kris Gildenblatt stand in solidarity this evening at the vigil for the 11 killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue, as well as the two killed at the Kroger grocery store in Louisville, Ky, that was held at 22 Main Street this evening. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Richard Sternberg, who organized the vigil, reads his opening remarks as Kris Gildenblatt lights candles representing those lost in racist and anti-Semitic attacks last week. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)

COOPERSTOWN – Rev. Joseph Perdue, First Baptist Church of Cooperstown, did not mince words as he read a statement from Zack Jackson, pastor, Community United Church of Christ in Reading, Penn, as part of the vigil for those killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue.

“This man who committed this massacre is a self-proclaimed Christian,” he said. “You will be tempted to say ‘He’s not a real Christian’ and feel no responsibility for him the way we do with Westboro Baptist, abortion clinic bombers and every other person who kills in Jesus’ name. It’s easy to walk away. But we must, instead, walk towards the problem of Christian extremism and face it head on!”

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