Standing Against Hate
By: Katy Tyndell
Good morning, Leading Kansas,
On what should be a celebratory time for many of our Jewish brothers and sisters—with the first night of Hanukkah approaching—we instead woke up to tragedy. Several people were killed this morning in a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, in what appears to be a targeted attack on the Jewish community. Just yesterday, violence struck closer to home on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where students were busy preparing for final exams. Two families will be faced with the impossible task of mourning their loved ones instead of celebrating together with them this holiday break.
We can and we must continue talking about gun violence in this country. But today’s news from Bondi Beach reminds us of something just as urgent: hate is often the fuel behind these acts of violence. And when hate goes unchecked—when lies are allowed to metastasize and dehumanization becomes normalized—people are hurt, lives are lost, and humanity suffers.
To our Jewish members and neighbors: our hearts are with you today. You are not alone. We see you, we stand with you, and we reject antisemitism in all its forms—full stop.
At a time when too many of our leaders are either too afraid or too willing to look the other way, Leading Kansas will not be silent. We will continue to speak out against hate—whether it is directed at our Jewish communities, immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+, or anyone else targeted simply for who they are.
And we will continue to act.
That is why members of Leading Kansas are gathering today to assemble more whistle kits for immigrant communities who need them. It is why we are working to host a documentary screening of Four Hours at the Capitol on January 6, 2026—five years to the day after the attack on our democracy—to remind people what happens when lies, hate, and political violence are allowed to flourish unchecked. It is why we keep organizing, listening, and building community, even when the work feels heavy.
What we are doing may sometimes feel small in the face of global tragedy. But it is not insignificant. As my colleague Noah said at our last meeting, channeling the Broadway musical Hamilton, “History has its eyes on us.” The next generation is watching our every move. And moreso, they are depending on us to choose wisely. To choose love over hate. To choose courage over fear. To choose truth over lies. Our children need us to make the right choices, not the easy ones.
We have to find a better path forward.
With solidarity and resolve,
Katy
On behalf of the Leading Kansas Team