Association of Flight Attendants' Statement on Killings in Orlando

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO International President Sara Nelson issued the following statement about the massacre at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

"The Association of Flight Attendants joins together as one, heads bowed in mourning for the victims of the massacre in Orlando.

"It appears the gunman targeted our LGBTQ community, acting on an unfathomable level of hatred. As a union that has long championed the rights of LGBTQ workers, we will not allow the victims to be defined by their killer. These were ordinary people in every respect – neighbors, friends, co-workers, family. They deserved to be embraced by love, not cut down by hate.

"We note with sadness, and much anger, the current atmosphere in our country. Hate has crept back into the public debate, even as progress has been made toward equality. Public officials, pastors and TV personalities preach hate, exclusion, xenophobia. Their hate speech cannot be allowed to drown out the love we feel for all people, and the equality upon which our nation was founded.

"We stand with President Obama: this massacre is an act of terror directed at LGBTQ Americans. AFA joins all Americans for whom the continuing carnage and loss of innocent life is unacceptable.

"As the President said, thoughts and prayers are not enough. We join in the demand for changes that will restore responsible gun laws to communities across the nation.

"But most of all, we send our love – 50,000 strong – to the families and friends of the victims in Orlando, and to our members and all Americans whose heart is hurting. We will stand together until love triumphs over evil."

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world's largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 70 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

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SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA)