Washington, DC – The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), which is the voice of the 7.4 trillion-dollar wholesale distribution industry, which employs more than 5 million US workers, issued the following statement today in response to the news of the assault on Paul Pelosi: 

“We are shocked and saddened at the news of the violent attack made on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they heal from this tragic event and we wish Mr. Pelosi a speedy recovery,” said NAW CEO Eric Hoplin. “If it turns out that these attacks were politically motivated, we need to face the reality that political violence has been on the rise in our country. The lives of our political leaders and civil servants and their families are at risk as they carry out the enormous responsibility of running our country. There is no place for violence in a free and fair democracy. As we look ahead to the upcoming elections and the future of our country’s political system, it is crucial that we respect one another’s differences and not let violence replace well-intentioned debate,” concluded Hoplin.

NAW is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $7.4 trillion wholesale-distribution industry. Founded in 1946, NAW is comprised of national, regional, and state employers of all sizes, industry trade associations, partners, and stakeholders spanning all sectors of distribution. Our industry employs more than 5 million workers throughout the United States and accounts for 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. There are 35,000 wholesale distribution companies that operate nearly 150,000 places of business across North America, including all 50 states. 

NAW’s mission is to deliver world-class programs and services, designed to help the most dynamic companies in wholesale distribution succeed. Our programming is tailored for the CEOs, senior executives, and rising leaders at our member companies and associations. Members engage with NAW through our offerings in Thought Leadership, Networking, Executive Education, Benchmarking/Research, Shared Resourcing. Partnerships, Government Relations, and Public Affairs. 

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