In what authorities are saying was an assassination attempt, a gunman shot Giffords in the head at point-blank range as she met with constituents in a grocery store parking lot. The gunman then shot into the crowd before being apprehended. Those killed included a nine-year-old girl and a federal judge.
“Congresswoman Giffords has always been a dedicated servant to the working families of her community, and it is heartbreaking to hear that she was shot as she was meeting with her constituents to listen to their concerns,” said Rebekah Friend, executive director and secretary-treasurer of the Arizona AFL-CIO. “This senseless attack on a leader like Congresswoman Giffords and working Arizonans has no place in a democratic society like ours.
“From reports I have received from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin, it appears that no Safeway grocery store workers represented by UFCW 99 were hurt in the shooting.
“Today, I and other leaders in the labor movement are asking union members and all Arizonans to keep Congresswoman Giffords, the other victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.”
Leo Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers, joined with the union’s Arizona district leader to speak on behalf of Arizona Steelworkers.
“We are deeply saddened and also contemptuous of today’s violent event in Tucson,” Gerard said. “We all need to offer our private prayers for Rep. Giffords’ recovery to her family, constituents and our nation. The medical team in Tucson needs our heartfelt support for the others gravely wounded, and our collective sympathy goes to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy.”
Gerard urged, “We need to be a nation that comes together and rises to our best values.”
Robert LaVenture, director of USW District 12 of Albuquerque who represents copper miners and metal manufacturing workers in Arizona, confirmed that families of USW members work, shop and live in the same area as the site of the incident at the Tucson shopping center. “We all have contempt for this violent act and are horrified that an honored Member of Congress was gunned down.”
“The congresswoman and her family deserve our best hopes and prayers for her full recovery.”
This report is based on information from the AFL-CIO news blog and the United Steelworkers website.
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In what authorities are saying was an assassination attempt, a gunman shot Giffords in the head at point-blank range as she met with constituents in a grocery store parking lot. The gunman then shot into the crowd before being apprehended. Those killed included a nine-year-old girl and a federal judge.
“Congresswoman Giffords has always been a dedicated servant to the working families of her community, and it is heartbreaking to hear that she was shot as she was meeting with her constituents to listen to their concerns,” said Rebekah Friend, executive director and secretary-treasurer of the Arizona AFL-CIO. “This senseless attack on a leader like Congresswoman Giffords and working Arizonans has no place in a democratic society like ours.
“From reports I have received from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin, it appears that no Safeway grocery store workers represented by UFCW 99 were hurt in the shooting.
“Today, I and other leaders in the labor movement are asking union members and all Arizonans to keep Congresswoman Giffords, the other victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.”
Leo Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers, joined with the union’s Arizona district leader to speak on behalf of Arizona Steelworkers.
“We are deeply saddened and also contemptuous of today’s violent event in Tucson,” Gerard said. “We all need to offer our private prayers for Rep. Giffords’ recovery to her family, constituents and our nation. The medical team in Tucson needs our heartfelt support for the others gravely wounded, and our collective sympathy goes to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy.”
Gerard urged, “We need to be a nation that comes together and rises to our best values.”
Robert LaVenture, director of USW District 12 of Albuquerque who represents copper miners and metal manufacturing workers in Arizona, confirmed that families of USW members work, shop and live in the same area as the site of the incident at the Tucson shopping center. “We all have contempt for this violent act and are horrified that an honored Member of Congress was gunned down.”
“The congresswoman and her family deserve our best hopes and prayers for her full recovery.”
This report is based on information from the AFL-CIO news blog and the United Steelworkers website.