AFSCME Council 5 Family, 

There are moments when it seems like the ground has shifted beneath our feet—as grief and shock hits us with the full weight of tragedy. This is one of those moments.

A Devastating Loss to Our Union Family
Our union family has been heartbroken, enraged, and in mourning following the targeted assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her beloved husband Mark, and the attempted assassination that left Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette seriously injured and currently recovering in the hospital. These were not unknown or distant public officials to us. They are some of our closest friends. Our allies. Our champions. Our hearts are with Melissa and Mark's children, Sophie and Colin, and John and Yvette's daughter, Hope. During the attack, Yvette bravely leaped to protect their daughter and sustained many gunshot wounds, but prevented Hope from being physically injured by the assassin.

A Final Evening Together
That night, many of our own union members and staff stood beside Melissa just hours before her life was taken—sharing a meal, laughing, and talking about our shared priorities. We will never forget that time with her.

Join Us in Remembrance
A candlelight vigil will be held on Wednesday, June 18 from 8-9:30 pm on the steps of the State Capitol if you wish to join and pay your respects.

Melissa’s Legacy of Solidarity and Service
Melissa was one of the first people to call me when I was appointed Interim Executive Director. That call meant the world to me—and it said everything about who she was: thoughtful, swift to act, and full of solidarity. Over the years, I had the privilege of working with her one-on-one, in coalitions, during budget talks, on picket lines, our Day on the Hill events, and in press conferences. She was funny, brilliant, and unapologetically committed to the people of Minnesota and the labor movement.

True Champions of Labor
Melissa and John have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with labor—fighting for our pensions, the PERB Board, paid family and medical leave, workers' rights, and the dignity of all work. They never chased the spotlight. They chased results. When other leaders failed us, they often were the ones who stood in the breach with us.

An Attack on Our Values
This wasn’t just unspeakable violence against them—it was an attack on everything we believe in: democracy, public service, peaceful expression of dissent, and the idea that we can make life better when we together. We reject violence and hatred completely and without hesitation.

Union Solidarity in the Face of Tragedy
To our staff and members: I know many of you are also still so devastated and don't have all of the words to express ourselves in this moment. The pain is real. But so is the solidarity I’ve witnessed these past few days. You’ve checked on each other, provided updates with one another, shown up for one another, and stood together through it all. That’s who we are. And I’m proud of all of you and proud to work with you.

Thanks to Those Who Responded and Served
We owe deep thanks to the dozens of law enforcement agencies and first responders for their courage and rapid response. To our MnDOT workers and others in public service who helped block and secure roads and supported the search—thank you. This also includes our union members who serve as support specialists, crime prevention specialists, and many other critical roles in state and local government service who certainly played a key role in capturing the suspect in the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. We are grateful for you.

A Betrayal of Public Trust
This murderer impersonated law enforcement in order to gain the trust of these public servants and commit these heinous acts. That is a betrayal of public trust. 

Melissa’s Legacy Lives On
As we mourn, we also remember. Melissa’s legacy that surrounds us and will, with our continued fight and solidarity, continue on through the generations:

• Every time your child receives a school meal without charge,
• Every time our union asserts our right to collectively bargain, has a grievance meeting, or files an unfair labor practice through the PERB Board she helped create and fund,
• If you marry the person you love openly and with pride,
• Every time you make your own healthcare decisions,
• Every time you take a paid sick day or flee abuse to seek resources and safety under the Earned Sick and Safe Time, or as you will soon access the new Paid Family and Medical Leave program that launches in 2026 because of her protecting this law,
• Every time you hike a Minnesota state trail and enjoy our state parks that she fought to fund and expand,
• Every time you will see your monthly defined-benefit pension benefit deposited into your bank account and arrive on time, because she prioritized and protected that funding

These aren’t abstract ideas—they’re real, hard-fought victories that Melissa helped deliver with us by her side. Melissa never demanded the spotlight. She demanded progress. And she made it happen alongside allies and partners like our union. And we should be immensely proud.

How We Will Remember Melissa
We will remember Melissa not just for what she did, but for how she did it: with clarity, compassion, strategy, humor, and heart. She believed in our mission to her core—and we must now carry it forward in her honor.

Carrying the Torch Forward
We will not let up. We will carry the torch Melissa held so firmly in her grasp. Our movement for justice and dignity takes all of us to move this state and country in a better direction. 
We will defend our democracy.
We will protect public services. 
We will organize.
We will mobilize. 
We will call out violence, hatred, and discrimination. 
We will fight for each other.

Because that is who we are as AFSCME.

In solidarity and with resolve,
Bart Andersen
Executive Director
AFSCME Council 5