UE's officers released the following statement today on Saturday's mass shooting in Pittsburgh.

On behalf of UE members across the country, we extend our deepest condolences and sympathy for the victims of Saturday’s mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, which is believed to be the deadliest violent attack on Jewish people in U.S. history.

This attack was a political attack, motivated by anti-Semitism and white supremacy. The shooter explicitly posted on social media that his desire was to kill Jewish people who provide aid to immigrants.

The violent and hateful rhetoric employed by President Trump against immigrants, reporters, and political opponents undoubtedly encourages those considering such acts of violence, not only the Pittsburgh shooting but also the recent murder of two African-Americans in Kentucky and the bomb attempts on prominent Democrats.

Pittsburgh, the city where UE’s national office is located and where UE has represented workers since our founding in 1936, is a city with a proud tradition of working-class people coming together across differences of race, religion and national origin to build powerful unions to win a better life for the working class. Violent attacks on any group are an affront to the most basic values of the labor movement, and unions must work to unite our members and communities to change our country so that these kinds of attacks never happen again.

UE stands in full solidarity with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, with immigrants and refugees, and with all who are targeted on the basis of their identity. Solidarity is stronger than hate. Together we will build a better world, free of violence and hate.

Peter Knowlton
General President

Andrew Dinkelaker
Secretary-Treasurer

Gene Elk
Director of Organization