Statement from Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham and Secretary-Treasurer Brad Lehto in response to today’s political violence:
“On behalf of Minnesota’s Labor Movement, we are heartbroken at the murder of House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. We are sending all our prayers and hopes for Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette to make a full recovery from this assassination attempt.
“Melissa Hortman was more than just a friend to the Labor Movement; she embodied our core values and wore them on her sleeve during her twenty years in public service.
“As Speaker of the House in 2023, Melissa Hortman led the way in passing the most expansive pro-labor legislation in more than a generation – passing the strongest paid family and medical leave legislation in the state, earned sick and safe time, expanded collective bargaining rights and so much more. Her legacy will live on for generations thanks to everything she did for working Minnesotans and our families.
“Violence has no place in our political discourse. In a democratic republic, we work out our disagreements through public debate and expressing our rights to peacefully protest injustice. We unequivocally condemn this and any other act of political violence and hope those responsible face justice for this terrible act.
“Our thoughts are with both the Hortman and Hoffman families and all elected officials who stand up for working people in our democracy.”