The fatal shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday occurred on the same night as the American Jewish Committee was holding an event for young professionals.
The sold-out “Young Diplomats Reception” is described as an event “bringing together Jewish young professionals (22-45) and the diplomatic community,” according to its Eventbrite page. The event was organized by ACCESS, the American Jewish Committee’s division for young professionals.
The two Israeli embassy staff members who were shot dead were leaving an event, according to Pamela A. Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The theme of this year’s Young Diplomats Reception was “turning pain into purpose,” and featured speakers from the Multifaith Alliance and IsraAID, according to the Eventbrite page.
“Hear from members of the Multifaith Alliance and IsraAID, as they delve into humanitarian diplomacy and how a coalition of organizations – from the region and for the region – are working together in response to humanitarian crises throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region,” the page read.
The event was scheduled from 6:30-9 p.m. ET.
CNN National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem said the event would have likely hosted people from many different embassies.
“It’s sort of a way for young professionals in the foreign policy and foreign service space to get to know each other, so in many ways it was counter to the hate that would be experienced that evening in DC,” Kayyem told CNN’s MJ Lee.
“This was an event that was bringing lots of young people together whose countries probably disagree on things, to try to leave it to the next generation,” Kayyem said.
