Response to ICE Raids in Los Angeles

Protests in Los Angeles began on Friday after it emerged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out raids in areas of the city with prominent Latino populations. These aids by federal agencies have stepped up after the current occupant of the White House returned to the presidency and pledged to crack down on illegal immigration.

CBS News reported that recent operations took place in the Westlake district as well as in Paramount, south of Los Angeles, where the population is more than 82% Hispanic.  This federal action also included the injury and detainment of SEIU President David Huerta, along with dozens of other workers just trying to go about their day. Huerta was released today.

On Saturday, the White House deployed 2,000 National Guard members to the Los Angeles area, despite no request from California state politicians. The National Guard acts as a hybrid entity that serves both state and federal interests. Typically, a state's force is activated at the request of the governor, and the White circumvented that step by invoking a rarely-used federal law, arguing that the protests constituted "a form of rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States".

The move has been condemned by California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, who said they believed local police could handle the situation.

People from coast to coast are showing solidarity and support with Los Angeles. In Los Angeles and all over the country, working people and their allies are peacefully standing up for immigrant communities and rejecting brutal ICE raids that are separating families and terrorizing neighborhoods and workplaces. David Huerta represents the best of our nation's labor movement. He is a citizen, a proud Angeleno, born and raised in LA County, the son of a union member. He has a wife and two sons. He has dedicated his life to fighting for low-wage, immigrant workers.

What happened to David Huerta on Friday is about more than just a single leader. It is a direct assault on all of us who believe in the fundamental American right to stand up for justice, and speak out for the rights of workers. Now, the current presidential administration is weaponizing the federal government to go after people who disagree with them politically. It is a real threat to our democracy, and Felony Murder Elimination Project join SEIU members around the country in refusing to be silent. We will stand up to this.

It is shameful and wrong that this administration is attempting to tear apart our families, communities and disrupt the lives of peaceful, hardworking people. This administration’s political persecution of its enemies must end.

Sending the National Guard into American communities is an unnecessary escalation by this administration. There is no need for this, and it needs to stop.

In the face of these assaults on our communities, it is inspiring to see working people are rejecting it, exercising their right to speak out and peacefully protesting. They’re not going anywhere, and FMEP stand with them. We also stand with communities nationwide in demanding ICE return people to their families and communities, end family separations and stop unjust detentions.

If you are in or near Sacramento, there will be a rally sponsored by the Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform - Stop Deportations & Citizenship for All - starting at 4PM, originating from the West side (10th Street) of the Capitol building.

If you plan to attend this rally, or engage in any protest against the federal ICE actions, please make note of actions to take to protect your safety. We have the right of assembly and protest under the First Amendment. To that end, it is critical that you adhere to the following the guidance.

• We are engaging in a peaceful protest and we should help others stay peaceful.
• We do not recommend that non-US citizens participate in the protests. Non-US citizens, even lawful permanent residents, face risks in participating in protests. 
• Members who have prior criminal convictions or outstanding warrants may not attend.
• Carry a government-issued ID.
• Do NOT carry: (1) non-prescription or recreational drugs; (2) weapons, or anything that may be misconstrued as a weapon;
• When interacting with law enforcement, you must obey all directions they give you, stay calm, be respectful (even if law enforcement is not), keep your hands visible, don’t argue, resist, or obstruct law enforcement, even if you believe your rights are being violated.
• Be aware that law enforcement may confiscate cell phones if members are carrying them. 
• Outside individuals or groups may attempt to join the action.  If any of them attempt to cause disruption or get into altercations with law enforcement, you should contact a marshal immediately. If there are disruptions or altercations, you should leave the action.

In solidarity.