WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement regarding the recent hate-fueled violence, and the dangerous and divisive rhetoric from candidates for public office:

“AFSCME members come from many different backgrounds. We do many different jobs. And we hold many different beliefs. But we share one quality in common: a deep commitment to making our communities and our nation better, safer and stronger. That's why we've dedicated our lives to public service.

“We are broken-hearted by the news of the past few weeks and horrified to see that some candidates for public office still believe marginalizing and dehumanizing people who might think or look or pray differently is a winning strategy. November 6 is our chance to prove that it isn’t.

“From a hate-filled gunman murdering worshippers in a Pittsburgh synagogue to another angry soul targeting critics of the president with pipe bombs through the mail;

“From conspiracy theories about Jewish funding of a ‘caravan’ of immigrants headed toward the United States to attacks on all immigrants coming via our southern border that stoke racist fears;

“From a candidate for governor urging Florida voters not to ‘monkey this up’ by supporting his black opponent to a recent Trump Administration proposal that would make it official government policy to deny the existence of transgender people, public service workers say enough is enough.

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought and died for the right of every person to be treated with dignity and respect when he marched with AFSCME sanitation workers in Memphis in 1968. On November 6, AFSCME members will stand up for Dr. King’s legacy and the legacy of our union.”

# # #

 

AFSCME members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in communities across the nation, serving in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and freedom and opportunity for all working families.