'We Must Learn From These Tragedies:' Local Politician Speaks Out After Mass Shooting Attacks

GLEN COVE, NY — New York State Assemblymember Charles Lavine spoke out about the mass shooting attacks in Bondi Beach, Australia, and at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

A father and son are suspected of killing 15 people on Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration where hundreds had gathered to celebrate, The Associated Press reported.

The Brown University shooting has left 2 students dead and nine others injured, CNN reported.

Lavine serves as Chairman of the Assembly Judiciary Committee and as President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and a member of its National Board of Directors.

Lavine issued the following statement on Monday:

"Standing together, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught us that hatred cannot drive away hatred. Only love can defeat hatred. Darkness cannot be driven away by more darkness. Only light can defeat darkness. While the primitive events in Australia and Rhode Island, occurring on the 13th anniversary of Sandy Hook, will cause us feelings of despair, we must find strength in celebrating Chanukah as the Festival of Lights. Like Christmas and Diwali themselves, festivals of light, that light must be our North Star."

He continued:

"We must learn from these tragedies. If ever we needed light to shine all over the world, it is today. Americans of good faith must stand together to protect each other. That is the American way. It is the Jewish way. It is the way of all our great faiths."