Labor leader David Huerta appeared Monday in federal court where he was released on a $50,000 bond following his arrest while protesting an immigration raid at a clothing manufacturing site in downtown Los Angeles.
The president of the Service Employees International Union of California was charged with one felony count of conspiracy to impede an officer and was ordered to remain 100 yards away from federal agents or operations. An arraignment hearing was set for July 7.
Supporters cheered as Huerta, 58, exited the Roybal Federal Building in downtown LA after his initial court appearance.
“I just want to tell my members … that I hope, I don’t know if the right word is forgiveness,” he said. “It was not my intention to get arrested. I hope that I did not put them in harm’s way.”
Huerta was among a group of protesters outside an Ambiance Apparel garment warehouse where federal immigration authorities were arresting multiple people.
Video from the scene shows a federal agent pushing a man that appears to be Huerta away from a white van attempting to drive onto the warehouse property. Huerta falls backward violently to the ground, where he was tackled and taken into custody.
Court documents filed in LA federal court accuse Huerta of cursing and taunting federal agents at the scene.
“Sometime later, Huerta and another person sat cross-legged in front of the vehicular gate,” according to an affidavit in support of the complaint. “Huerta waved at those around him and yelled ‘everybody sit down, sit down!’ In addition to sitting in front of the gate, Huerta at various times stood up and paced in front of the gate, effectively preventing law enforcement vehicles from entering or exiting the premises through the gate to execute the search warrant.”
The affidavit added, “As officers issued instructions to clear the way, Huerta refused to move away from the path of the vehicle and instead stood in front of the vehicle with his hands on his hips.”
The union said Huerta had been injured during his arrest.
“We are relieved that David is free and reunited with his family and we are deeply grateful to the hundreds of elected officials, civil rights leaders, labor partners and allies from across the nation who stood in solidarity and demanded David’s release,” SEIU International President April Verrett said in a statement.
“But this struggle is about much more than just one man. Thousands of workers remain unjustly detained and separated from their families,” Verrett continued. “At this very moment, immigrant communities are being terrorized by heavily militarized armed forces. The Trump regime calling in the National Guard is a dangerous escalation to target people who disagree with them. It is a threat to our democracy. The federal government should never be used as a weapon against people who disagree with them.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom was among the authorities speaking out on behalf of Huerta, calling him a “respected leader, a patriot and an advocate for working people.”
“No one should ever be harmed with witnessing government action,” Newsom said.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote on social media Friday that Huerta actively obstructed a lawful operation.
“Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA work site this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle,” Essayli wrote. “He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday. Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.”
At a rally Monday, SEIU California members called for Huerta’s immediate release.
“We are proud of President Huerta’s righteous participation as a community observer, in keeping with his long history of advocating for immigrant workers and with the highest values of our movement: standing up to injustice, regardless of personal risk or the power of those perpetrating it,” the union’s Executive Director Tia Orr said in a statement.
On Friday evening, Huerta issued a statement through the union:
“What happened to me is not about me. This is about something much bigger. This is about how we as a community stand together and resist the injustice that’s happening. Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice. This is injustice. And we all have to stand on the right side of justice.”
Verrett called for an end to the immigration raids Monday.
“We demand the release of all people unjustly detained, and an end to the raids,” she said. “We demand that all immigration proceedings uphold the principles of due process, and that all detainees have access to the legal representation and rights promised by the constitution.”
If convicted, Huerta faces a six-year sentence in federal prison.
