Thousands gather in Los Angeles to protest ICE’s actions and demand justice for labor leader David Huerta.
- Thousands protested in downtown LA against ICE raids and the arrest of SEIU California president David Huerta.
- Kern County labor leaders, including Dolores Huerta, joined the protests to demand Huerta’s release from federal custody.
- The protests emerged following ICE raids in the LA area over the weekend, sparking significant backlash.
Thousands gathered in Downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Park to protest SEIU California President David Huerta’s arrest and the ICE raids that occurred over the weekend. A Kern County contingent attended, including SEIU Local 521 and Dolores Huerta, who delivered a message to the crowd.
Dolores and David Huerta are not related, despite having the same last name. Dolores was among several speakers who spoke out against recent ICE raids and demanded the release of David Huerta, president of SEIU California, from federal custody.
According to ABC7 in Los Angeles, Huerta was released from federal custody on Monday on a $50,000 bond.
The ICE raids sparked weekend protests. Huerta was arrested Friday on federal charges of obstructing an officer. He was scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Monday.
On Monday, 23ABC was the only Kern County station in downtown Los Angeles that spoke with protesters, which included SEIU Local 521 President Mullissa Willette and several union members. Willette stated that they were in solidarity with Huerta and opposed ICE’s actions, arguing that detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants harms the economy.
“The workers targeted by ICE are harming our economy.” And it doesn’t just harm those neighborhoods. That has a ripple effect throughout the country, particularly in California, which has the world’s fourth largest economy. We contribute to the US economy. And having workers detained and unable to report to work every day, as well as communities living in fear and unwilling to leave their homes, is a problem.
Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers union, also attended Monday’s rally. She claimed the government’s actions are intended to intimidate immigrants across the country and emphasized that they will not back down.
“They want to intimidate us; if we let them, they win and we lose. They want to separate us. And if we allow it, they win while we lose. They want us not to trust one another. And if we allow it, they win while we lose. So we must continue to fight and be united, wherever we are in this country, to protect immigrants.
Dolores Huerta, a Kern County labor icon, also spoke to the crowd, saying that the best way to fight is peacefully—and by voting in the November midterm elections.
“This is what we must do in 2026, when those elections take place. “Hey, who will win?”
Protests are expected to continue in the Los Angeles area while the National Guard remains present. According to SEIU Local 521, demonstrations may take place in Kern County in the future.
