AFL-CIO Condemns Politically Motivated Charges Against SEIU Leader David Huerta

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement on the federal charges brought today against SEIU United Service Workers West and SEIU California President David Huerta:

At the heart of any democracy is the freedom to peacefully express opposition to injustice. But today, the federal government announced it is pursuing misdemeanor charges against SEIU leader David Huerta for simply observing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) workplace raid to ensure workers were being treated fairly. This is a gross abuse of power by an administration hell-bent on punishing its perceived enemies and attacking immigrants. 

David, a leader in the Los Angeles community where he was born and raised, was simply exercising his constitutional rights when he was violently arrested. On that day, he was observing ICE activity at a jobsite that employed hardworking immigrants and standing up for not just immigrant workers, but all workers. He never should have been detained in the first place, and it’s a threat to all working people that the Trump Department of Justice is now pursuing these baseless charges. In the labor movement, we live by the principle that an injustice against one is an injustice against all of us. As David fights for justice and vindication, the nearly 15 million members of the AFL-CIO stand shoulder to shoulder with him—and all of those unfairly targeted by this administration. 

Contact: Steve Smith, 202-637-5018