UFCW International Statement on Colorado Grocery Store Shooting
March 23, 2021
BOULDER, CO – MARCH 22: Police respond at a King Sooper’s grocery store where a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in the attack. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)
Yesterday, on March 22, 2021, a gunman opened fire on retail grocery workers and customers at a King Soopers’ store in Boulder, Colorado. Reports indicate that 10 people were killed in the attack.
“I know the heartfelt thoughts and condolences of every UFCW member are with the families and loved ones of the shooting victims in Boulder,” said President Haggerty. “The fact that these workers – already on the frontlines throughout the pandemic – and customers had the courage and heart to protect each other is an incredible ray of hope on a day that should never have ended in such violence and tragedy. Please continue to take care of each other out there.”
Below is the statement released by UFCW International:
Union for Colorado Grocery Workers on Shift During Shooting Condemns the Senseless Violence, Calls for Investigation and Action to Prevent Future Tragedies Endangering Essential Workers Already on Frontlines of COVID
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3 million frontline workers in food and retail – including the 32 King Soopers grocery workers who work at the Boulder store where the shooting took place. UFCW represents over 22,000 Colorado workers statewide and is calling on state and federal leaders for a full investigation and action to prevent future tragedies that could endanger essential workers already facing COVID risks.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“As the union for the brave Colorado grocery workers caught in the crossfire of this tragic shooting, UFCW is heartbroken and our prayers are with our members, their families, and the loved ones of all the victims. We are deeply thankful to the grocery workers, customers, and first responders whose courageous actions helped to prevent even more lives from being lost.
“Every day of this pandemic, grocery workers have been bravely putting their health at risk on the frontlines of COVID-19 to keep our families fed. This shooting is a tragic reminder that the pandemic is not the only threat our communities face.
“Protecting essential workers and the families they serve must be the first priority of corporate and elected leaders. UFCW is calling for an immediate investigation into this shooting, urging Governor Polis and Colorado leaders to work with law enforcement at the federal, state, and local level to determine how this happened. The victims and their families deserve answers and need to know that our leaders are doing all they can to prevent future tragedies like this from endangering even more of our country’s brave essential workers.”
View the original post on the UFCW International site.
UFCW Local 7 represents the 32 workers at the King Sooper’s store in Boulder.
Local 7 released a statement yesterday as well. You can read it here.