Union President David Huerta is released, LA leaders call for a peaceful movement

On the fourth day of anti-ICE protests the National Guard, along with other law enforcement officers, were seen protecting the Los Angeles Federal Building while activists stood a few feet away condemning their presence. 

On the other side of Los Angeles City Hall, on Monday morning thousands of people demanded the release of Service Employees International Union (SEIU-USWW) President David Huerta and several undocumented immigrants that have been detained since Friday. 

Huerta appeared in federal court Monday around noon and was released on a $50,000 bond. He was arraigned to appear in court July 7. 

Once outside, without shoes and the same clothes he was wearing on Friday, he said his intention was not to be arrested, and hoped he didn’t put anyone in harm’s way. 

Huerta said there were people of many nationalities in the detention center. However, he also emphasized that positive changes will not happen with violence, advocating for peaceful protests. 

Earlier, at Gloria Molina Grand Park, thousands of people, many representing different unions, gathered, calling for David Huerta to be freed and for ICE raids to stop. 

Activist and labor leader Dolores Huerta encouraged people to continue protesting but do so peacefully and go beyond only protesting.

“Organize! Organize your community,” she said in an interview with CALÓ News. “Elections are coming up and we can vote for our next representatives in Congress.”

Fearful to miss check-ins 

Outside of the L.A. Federal Building, Lenier León, 32, was attending his scheduled check in. He arrived to the United States after doing a long journey from his native Cuba to Nicaragua, Guatemala and then Mexico, where he stayed for several months until he was called to schedule his case on the CBP One app, a mobile app developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

He said returning to Cuba was not an option so he decided to run the risk, despite the ICE crackdowns. 

León said he was scheduled to defend his asylum case but once he arrived at the building he noticed it was closed. He kept asking the National Guard about how to get in, but wasn’t receiving any answers. He said he had showed up in the past to his check ins and hadn’t had any issue. 

“If I don’t go inside, I'm afraid I may get deported,” he said. “I will stay here a little longer to see if I can go in.” A little later, pro-immigrant activist Juan José Gutierrez provided him with some support. 

Increasing law enforcement presence

By the afternoon, the rising number of protesters were mostly peaceful. However, this time there were also a higher number of police officers. 

The Trump administration announced that 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms, about 140 miles east ofLos Angeles, are ready to aid the federalized National Guard troops to help protect federal facilities and personnel.

The Marine deployment will ensure there are “adequate numbers of forces to provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency,'' according to U.S. Northern Command.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said nearly 400 California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers will be deployed in Los Angeles in support of the LAPD. The CHP also issued a tactical alert, moving more than 250 officers into the area to assist with road and highway safety.

Another 240 officers will also be moving into the area from sheriff's departments in San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and from police departments within Los Angeles County.

Terrorizing immigrants

The community continues to feel terrorized due to family separations and people being taken away without due process. The immigrants detained haven’t been able to receive legal advice or talk to their family members, said Marta Aevalo, director of CARECEN. 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said on a press conference Monday evening that  five ICE raids were confirmed in the LA region including two in Los Angeles city. 

Los Angeles Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez said ICE is picking up people in work places and the streets without warrants. 

“They are refusing Congress members into these buildings, which is unheard of. They have used armored vehicles and flash vehicles… all this stuff coming from ICE,” he said. 

He also encouraged people to protest peacefully. “Please try to hit the streets, but do it peacefully. We want to stay on message, this is about keeping families together,” he said.