"Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who were senselessly killed in Brooklyn over the weekend. This was an assassination, a brutal act of violence against two men who worked to keep our city safe. Violence is never the answer. We join Mayor de Blasio in requesting that all protests be suspended until after the officers' funerals.

"The guiding spirit of the protests in New York City and many other communities in recent weeks has been pro-justice, not anti-police. This is not the time for divisive, political statements, which only stoke the flame of discord. It is incumbent upon the leaders of our city to promote unity during this difficult time so that we can move forward and engage in a peaceful dialogue where everyone’s concerns are heard."

-Kevin Finnegan, Political Director of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest union in New York and the largest healthcare union in the nation.