Steelers will honor victims of Tree of Life synagogue shooting with moment of silence

The Pittsburgh Steelers will hold a moment of silence to remember the 11 people killed in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting a year ago.

The team posted a statement Sunday by Steelers president Art Rooney II asking fans to stand together and observe a moment of silence in honor of the victims and their families, as they did a year ago, for Monday’s game.

The Steelers will play the Miami Dolphins for a “Monday Night Football” game at Heinz Field.

Statement from #Steelers Team President Art Rooney II on the anniversary of the shooting in the Tree of Life Synagogue. pic.twitter.com/mwYDZYmMau

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 27, 2019

After the shooting the city rallied around the Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill and the Jewish community with a “Stronger than Hate” message and slogan that adopted a modified Steelers logo — replacing one of the three hypocycloids with the Star of David.

Last year, a day after the shooting, the Steelers started their game with a moment of silence followed by a moment of cheers, first with a prayer for the shooting victims and then by clapping for local rock legend Donnie Iris to sing the national anthem.

It was a perfect Pittsburgh moment, as Heinz Field served as a sanctuary for a city in mourning, wrote Tribune-Review columnist Kevin Gorman.

The statement reads:

“On this anniversary of the tragic day in our city when innocent people were gunned down in the Tree of Life Synagogue, we pause to offer our thoughts and prayers for the families of those who lost their lives , as well as those who survived that terrible day. Since that day our community has resolve to stay stronger than hate and anti-Semitism. As we did a year ago, we will again ask our fans at the game on Monday night to stand together and observe a moment of silence in honor of the victims and their families.”