Above photo: Supporters gather at a rally demanding Alfredo’s release. Community to Community Development.
Longtime farmworker organizer Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this week in what many believe to be retaliation for his organizing. Juarez was pulled over while driving his wife to work. ICE agents shattered Juarez’s window and dragged him out of the vehicle for exercising his right to remain silent, his brother said.
Juarez helped form Familias Unidas por la Justicia, an independent farmworker union that emerged out of a 2013 work stoppage by berry workers in Washington state. He himself began working as a berry picker at 14, and has fought for the rights of farmworkers since, advocates say.
“Alfredo has been one of the leaders in the farmworker movement around the nation and has been outspoken in defending workers and immigrants,” said Edgar Franks, FUJ’s political director. “We feel that his detention by ICE is a move to silence organizing for immigrant and farmworker rights. This is going to affect workers everywhere, immigrant or not.”
Local unions and immigrant justice activists sprang into action. “Our union members grabbed bullhorns and traveled directly to the facility to protest this injustice,” said Faye Guenther, president of UFCW Local 3000. “We will continue to show up to worker-led actions as long as it takes.”
Here are three things you can do in solidarity with Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez:
1. Attend a vigil or action. The Washington State Labor Council is sponsoring an emergency rally at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, where Juarez and SEIU Local 925 member Lewelyn Dixon are behind held, tonight (March 27) at 5:30 p.m. For more information contact Dulce at (509) 833-3096.
Find updates on actions here.
2. Make phone calls demanding the release of Alfredo Juarez and other politically targeted detainees.
Washington Attorney General’s office: 360-753-6200
Washington State Governor’s office: 360-902-4111
Representative Rick Larson: (425) 252-3188
Senator Patty Murray: (253) 572-3636
Senator Maria Cantwell: (253) 572-2281
A new tool is now live that will help folks make the calls automatically. You can access that here.
3. Donate. Community to Community Development is collecting contributions for Lelo’s legal defense fund. You can donate via their website at this link, or mail a check to:
Community to Community Development
PO Box 1646 Bellingham, WA 98227