FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Matthew Hardy for CFT, 510-703-5291; Claudia Briggs for CTA, 916-325-1550; Oriana Korin for AFT, 202-374-6103; and Celeste Busser Fernandez for NEA, 202-262-0589

SACRAMENTO, CA—Four state and national education union leaders issued the following statement in the wake of the early morning shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California that has already claimed the lives of two students and critically wounded others.

The following can be attributed to California Teachers Association President E. Toby Boyd, California Federation of Teachers President Jeff Freitas, National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten:

“We are once again rocked to our core by another senseless and cowardly shooting that has taken two of our precious students, left several students fighting for their lives today and the community of Saugus terrorized by the violence they hoped and prayed would never happen to them. We stand together during these difficult moments, sending love and healing thoughts to the victims and their families, our fellow educators and school employees who without a doubt did everything possible to protect their students, and the community that has been wounded today. “

More than five million educators and school employees from California and across the country are standing strong with Saugus as they pick up the pieces and try to make sense of this tragedy. We dream of the day when these acts of gun violence no longer threaten our students’ safety and well-being. Our children cannot wait any longer for this dream to come true. We owe it to our students and our educators to make our schools and communities safe and welcome spaces, and we will do everything we can to make that happen. We call on all federal and state lawmakers to take quick action to put an end to these tragic shootings by passing meaningful and sensible gun reform. Our students and our communities are counting on you.”

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The California Federation of Teachers represents 120,000 faculty and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, a union of 1.7 million professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities.

The 310,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association, the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.