Farmworkers Plan Strike in Response to Immigration Operations

Dozens of farmworkers, community members, and human rights advocates gathered at La Placita Olvera in Los Angeles Monday to address what they describe as fear, anxiety, and uncertainty facing millions of farmworker families amid immigration operations across California.

The press conference, organized by the "Strike for Dignity" campaign, called for farmworkers to take extreme action: go on strike from July 16th through July 18th. The farmworker-led labor action demands a pathway to citizenship, an end to ICE raids and deportations, and permanent protections for millions of undocumented residents.

"As companies invest in automation, we are told that our farm workers, that a lot of our workers in this country are replaceable after generations of loyalty and sacrifice," said Flor Martinez Zaragoza, the lead organizer for Strike for Dignity who spearheaded the event.

The organizers also called for boycotts of large companies that have publicly supported the Trump administration.

However, the movement faces divided support within the farmworker community. Several farmworker unions and organizations, including the United Farmworkers Foundation, have stated they are not involved in the strike.

Local organizations contacted for comment on today's press conference did not respond.