Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
In response to verified reports that members of an extremist group used veteran suicide as a political stunt, the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO (UVC) released this statement on Tuesday:
“Yesterday, anti-American extremist members of the 1776 Restoration Movement organized a call-in action to clog the VA Suicide Crisis line in an attempt at an appalling political stunt. Over 20 veterans and service members a day die by suicide, and the crisis line is a vital and life-saving resource for many. UVC strongly condemns these unconscionable political stunts put on by the 1776 movement. We stand with vets in crisis, who can call 988 or text 838225 for support.
“We would also like to highlight today’s VA announcement that veterans suicide is decreasing, which makes this stunt even more egregious.”