On the day before Congress started a leading US West Coast trade unionist David Huerta was violently arrested in Los Angeles while observing a demonstration. I drafted an emergency motion expressing our solidarity and commitment to the right to assemble and organise and then moved it on the Congress floor. it was carried unanimously by the over 300 delegates representing over 465,000 members.
The text of the resolution is below/overleaf, …
Congress notes on the 6th of June the violence arrest of David Huerto, President of the SEIU California and SEIU- USWW in Los Angeles while he was serving as a community observer during an ICE raid there.
Congress notes article 20 of the UN declaration of human rights guaranteeing freedom of assembly and association.
We further note the plans to prosecute him with a conspiracy to interfere with a federal officer.
Congress condemns the arrest and injury and agrees to send message of solidarity to the David Huerto and his union.
Congress calls on the TUC and the labour government to send messages of solidarity also.
The featured image comes from the SEIU Local 721 web site and does not show the demo at which Heurta was arrested,
This has been posted at a time approximately when the motion was debated.