It is important for victims of crime to feel that they are not alone. Particularly in the case of a religious or other community institution that has been vandalized or otherwise attacked, the leadership of that institution can alleviate the distress of their constituency and in the community at large, as well as send a message to those who carried out such a crime, by

• Soliciting condemnation of such acts by elected officials, business leaders, editorial writers and other representatives of community opinion;
• Seeking expressions of support and sympathy in the form of sermons or public statements from religious and ethnic group leaders;
• Cooperating with law enforcement officials in investigation of such incidents (and maintaining this communication on a continuing basis) as well as working with other local resources. The Anti-Defamation League's office in your region stands ready to offer the assistance of experienced staff in confronting the problems and in planning an effective community response.

These steps will make it clear to the offenders and their potential imitators that the entire community repudiates such behavior, takes it most seriously, and considers a criminal attack upon one of its members as an attack upon all.