Friends,

We are writing to you from Los Angeles.

Our beloved Los Angeles and surrounding region, home to 9.5 million Californians, is under siege.

On Friday, federal immigration agents arrived in armed military gear and vehicles and swept through our neighborhoods, businesses, work sites and schools, taking people into custody.

They took parents from middle school graduations, leaving crying children begging for their moms and dads. They took men trying to provide for their families from Home Depot parking lots, and workers from the flower and garment districts, leaving employers scrambling. They assaulted and arrested David Huerta, a labor leader representing janitors, security guards and airport workers for peacefully protesting their illegal actions.

As community members nonviolently defended families and loved ones, federal agents responded with violence, releasing tear gas, flash bangs and non-lethal rounds.Trump has now mobilized 2,000 national guard troops to put down peaceful protest and a city that was at peace before Friday.

Let us be clear who the real violent criminals are – Trump, his administration and their out-of-control army of masked immigration thugs who illegally and indiscriminately take people from our communities without warrants and due process.

It's not the working people who showed up to work on Friday. It’s not the parents who came to celebrate their children’s graduation. It’s not the bystanders hurt and abused indiscriminately targeted by ICE.  

Trump is obsessed with taking down California because of everything we stand for – our belief that you belong here no matter where you come from, our respect and care for our neighbors even if they are different from us, and the spirit of resistance that runs deep in our bones. We refused to be bullied.

Trump is abusing the power of the federal government to escalate violence and create dangerous theater and drama, in order to distract us from his Billionaire First Bullsh*t Budget. This moment calls on all of us to avoid Trump’s traps and practice vigilance, safety and disciplined nonviolent action.

If you believe that our freedoms are under attack and that no government should be used as a weapon against its own citizens, please stand with your neighbors today. Here are four things you can do:

1. Help us keep the story focused on Trump’s illegal and inhumane actions. Lift up the voices of those directly targeted by immigration action.

2. Join faith and community leaders tonight for a prayer vigil at 7 pm. at Los Angeles City Hall (200 N Spring St. Los Angeles CA 90012)

3. Join immigrant rights organizations for a Travel Ban protest at LAX (Tom Bradley International Terminal - Terminal B) Monday June 9th from 9am - 12pm

4. Demand the immediate release and safe return of David Huerta and all Angelenos detained on Friday. Join the SEIU-led action on Monday June 9th at 11:00am. At Grand Park (200 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA)

5. Help us grow our movement. Invite 5 friends to sign up to join We Are California today.

Finally, if you are distraught and frightened by what you see you are not alone. This is a dangerous and fragile moment for our country and our democracy.

But remember who we are - we are the people who built this nation and who made California the 4th largest economy in the world. Remember the power we hold when we stand together.

Join us and your neighbors to send a message that WE ARE CALIFORNIA and if you come from one of us, you come for all of us.

In Solidarity,

We Are California

We Are California is a movement of organizations and people across the state, including California Calls Action Fund

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