Federal Charges Against SEIU-USWW President David Huerta to be Dismissed
~”There was never a real case, only an attempt to punish and silence me for exercising my constitutional rights.”~
Los Angeles, CA – Today, following the announcement that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California intends to dismiss the charges against SEIU-United Service Workers West President David Huerta, the following statements were released:
Statement of David Huerta, President of SEIU-United Service Workers West
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it is dropping its charge against me.
This means the government is finally admitting what we knew from day one and what was obvious to anyone who saw the videos: the charge against me was baseless, meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize, or demand justice. There was never a real case, only an attempt to punish and silence me for exercising my constitutional rights.
Fourteen months ago, I went to the site of an ICE raid to protest this administration’s immigration policies and the brutal tactics of the agents carrying them out. I was there that day as the president of SEIU California and SEIU-United Service Workers West and a labor organizer with a lifelong record of standing with all workers regardless of their status, language, color, gender, or national origin.
That day, I loudly questioned the agents’ actions, and I was singled out for it. They claimed my words and my presence interfered with their operation. My actions, however infuriating to the federal agents, were protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution and for that I was tackled, pepper sprayed and detained. I consider myself fortunate to have been only detained, considering the murders in Minneapolis, Houston, Miami, and the deplorable conditions at federal detention centers throughout the country.
It has been the objective of my attorneys to defend me against an administration that has violated the very foundation of our civil rights as a society and country. Our motions exposed a case that never should have been brought because it violated my constitutional rights.
We were right. The dismissal of this charge doesn’t undo what happened. It doesn’t erase the impact to my family, to the workers at Ambiance Apparel, to our community, or to the thousands of workers and immigrant families who are still being targeted by a lawless administration who has declared open war on working families.
The administration’s weaponization of the judicial system never deterred me from fighting for what’s right. I will keep exercising my constitutional rights and protest every abuse this administration commits, and I will keep working to build a country that treats immigrant families and all workers with the dignity they deserve.
I’m grateful for the support of SEIU members, our community, my family, my friends, and everyone who has stood with me this past year. To every worker, every immigrant, everyone who’s ever been marginalized or discriminated against — now is not the time to keep your head down or to keep silent. Now is the time to keep organizing. To keep showing up. To keep fighting.
We will not be silenced. We will not be divided. And we will keep fighting until every worker and every family is safe from raids, separation, and fear.
Statement of Abbe David Lowell (Lowell & Associates) and Marilyn Bednarski (McLane, Bednarski + Litt), Counsel for David Huerta
Today, the government filed a notice of its intent to dismiss the charge against David Huerta. When this becomes final, it means this case is gone forever.
We said from the outset that this prosecution had no legal basis. David Huerta was arrested for peacefully protesting outside an ICE operation, exercising rights protected by the First Amendment. This case, like others, sought to silence criticism of the administration’s improper immigration actions. Today’s filing is proof that David and other critics will not be silenced.
This case revealed that the Department of Justice was willing to charge a labor leader with a crime, hold it over him for months, and then walk away from it once the charge couldn’t survive scrutiny. That is not how a justice system is supposed to work.
Our country needs more brave leaders like David Huerta to stand up for the wrongs they see around them.
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