Union workers rally at Connecticut State Capitol in solidarity with Los Angeles protesters
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A rally at the state capitol Monday brought members of different unions together in solidarity with those protesting what is happening in Los Angeles right now.
'Once again this administration has given us no choice but to organize against its cruel treatment of others,' said Rochelle Palache, the Vice President of the Service Employees International Union or SEIU Local 32BJ.
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Members of the SEIU said for them this is personal. That's because they say David Huerta, who is the president of the California chapter of the SEIU, was arrested on Friday for allegedly interfering with an ICE raid at a work site in Los Angeles.
'Free David,' the union members chanted in Hartford. 'Free David.'
The Department of Homeland Security alleges Huerta and other protesters attempted to halt the service of a search warrant by forming picket lines on public sidewalks to prevent officers from entering.
'I know David personally. He's a friend. He's a great union leader,' SEIU Member and Retiree Kevin Doyle said.
He said Huerta was injured and went to the hospital.
'He was not in any way interfering,' Doyle said. 'They just picked him out of the crowd, threw him on the ground, pepper sprayed him, and took him away.'
In a statement, Connecticut House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora said, 'The anti-American chaos unfolding in California is as sickening as it is predictable — and it's no surprise that SEIU has jumped into the fray. They've aligned themselves with agitators and rioters who would rather destroy cities than take even a single step toward enforcing our immigration laws. Now SEIU in Connecticut is proudly showing solidarity. Sadly, that fits the pattern — many of their foot soldiers in our legislature are already marching in lockstep with California's most radical policy agendas.'
'We will not remain silent,' said the union members at the rally.
There were a few different unions represented at the rally and they plan on coming together again on Saturday for what they are calling No Kings Day.
That is the same day a procession is planned in Washington D.C. to mark the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and showcasing its military might. It is also President Trump's birthday.
'We've got to show up again and we have to have twice as many people,' Rev. Scott Marks from Unite Here said.
News8 has reached out to the White House for comment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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