Supporting David Huerta

Floor Speech

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Ms. BALINT. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in support of labor leader David Huerta. The head of the SEIU California union was arrested in Los Angeles while exercising his First Amendment rights to speech and assembly, rights that are guaranteed to all of us in the Constitution. That is what separates us from autocratic regimes around the world.

The Trump administration is now going after judges, Members of Congress, political opponents, students, law firms, reporters, Governors, and now the leader of a powerful labor union.

This is about abusing power to silence dissent. This is about generating fear to turn us against each other so that we don't pay attention to this lawbreaking administration.

David Huerta said this after being arrested: ``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 is happening. Hardworking people and members of our family and community are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice.''

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