United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE condemns the ongoing ICE raids and violent tactics of fear that are tearing apart families, targeting communities of color, and undermining fundamental democratic rights across the country.
As a labor union, we know firsthand that fear is a tool used to silence working people. When workers are afraid to go to their jobs, send their children to school, seek medical care, or move freely in their own communities, all workers are made less safe. These actions do not protect our communities. They destabilize them, weaken solidarity, and erode the freedoms that unions exist to defend.
The labor movement has a long history of standing against injustice and repression. We reject policies and practices that criminalize workers, normalize indefinite detention, and strip people of due process. USA 829 stands in solidarity with many of our fellow unions and community organizations across the country in protesting the politically motivated expansion and conduct of ICE. We call for accountability for abuses of power, and demand policies that respect human dignity, constitutional rights, and the freedom of working people to live without fear.
Earlier this week we celebrated MLK Day—the Reverend Dr. King reminded us to “make a career of humanity”—to commit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for equal rights as a daily practice. That call remains urgent and clear today. Our democracy, like our labor movement, depends on people choosing solidarity over silence and humanity over indifference.
In that spirit, we encourage our members to show up in solidarity this Friday (1/23) by joining peaceful actions and events taking place across the nation in support of the Day of Truth and Freedom. By standing together—across crafts, communities, and unions—we affirm the simple truth Dr. King articulated, "Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in."
Day of Truth and Freedom Events Around the Country:
Minneapolis Event
NYC Event
Los Angeles Event
We affirm our commitment to solidarity, democratic values, and the protection of human life. We stand with our union siblings and community partners who are organizing for justice.
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