UDW Executive Director Doug Moore released the following statement in response to the massacre of 49 people at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida:
Our nation is reeling after experiencing the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history. 49 of our brothers, sisters, and friends were murdered at the hands of a man fueled by fear and hate.
The majority of the dead are young queer and trans Latinos, and the loss of these precious lives are felt deeply within our various communities. UDW is made up of nearly 94,000 in-home care providers who span all ages, races, genders, and sexual orientations. And though we’d like to believe otherwise, we know that this kind of tragedy could have just as easily happened here in California.
We are devastated, but we are also angry. Angry that we live in a world that breeds so much hate, that we have been taught to fear our differences instead of embracing and celebrating them. Angry that some have used this tragedy as an excuse to further marginalize Muslims and spread Islamophobia.
But we are also determined – determined not to let these souls die in vain. Determined to fight back against fear and hatred, to work together to build a world where all of our loved ones and neighbors – queer, trans, Latino, Muslim, and beyond – are safe from bigotry and violence. Together we are determined to get to the root cause of violence against marginalized people, and examine the ways in which we ourselves are complicit in that violence and make real change.
And we are also thankful. Thankful to the first responders and health care providers who saved lives and continue to care for those injured in the shooting. Thankful to our communities who will help us heal from this horrific act of violence. Thankful that we have each other’s backs in the fight for justice and equality for all.
Those who stand for hate and fear hope that this incident will further divide our communities, pitting marginalized groups against each other. Now is the time for us to come together and say enough is enough. Now is the time to show them what true solidarity looks like.
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United Domestic Workers of America (UDW)/AFSCME Local 3930 is a homecare union made up of nearly 94,000 in-home caregivers across the state of California. UDW caregivers provide care through the state’s In-Home Supportive Services program (IHSS), which allows hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities to stay safe and healthy at home.
