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United Farm Workers Profile picture
@UFWupdates
Jul 15 • 10 tweets • 2 min read • Read on X
ADVISORY: Statement, media avail. from unjustly detained U.S. veteran George Retes

Ventura County, CA—
Wed 7/16 at 3 pm PT, George Retes, U.S. citizen and Army veteran unjustly detained by federal agents during last week’s raid will hold a virtual press availability. 1/
Interested media should
RSVP to media @ ufw . org.

Ahead of his press
availability, George Retes issues the following statement: My name is George Retes. I’m a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, a U.S. citizen, and I work as a security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, California. On July 10th, I was wrongfully detained by ICE agents while simply trying to report to work. I was pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed, had my car window smashed, and was dragged out of my vehicle at gunpoint — all while I was nonviolent, and doing nothing wrong. I clearly identified myself as a U.S. citizen and an employee of the farm, yet federal agents ignored me, yelled conflicting orders, and then violently detained me. I was held in cust...
Mr George Retes during deployment in the US Army
“My name is George Retes. I’m a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, a U.S. citizen, and I work as a security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, California.

On July 10th, I was wrongfully detained by ICE agents while simply trying to report to work.
I was pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed, had my car window smashed, and was dragged out of my vehicle at gunpoint — all while I was nonviolent, and doing nothing wrong.
I clearly identified myself as a U.S. citizen and an employee of the farm, yet federal agents ignored me, yelled conflicting orders, and then violently detained me.

I was held in custody for three days without any charges, without a phone call, and without access to legal help.
I was never told why I was arrested. I never received care to clean myself despite being covered in tear gas and OC spray for days.
This is not how any person should be treated — especially not a veteran who served this country with honor. I didn’t break any law. I was just trying to go to work.

What happened to me wasn’t just a mistake — it was a violation of my civil rights.
It was excessive force. And it was a failure of justice. I’m speaking out not just for myself, but for every citizen who could’ve ended up in my place that day.

I’m calling for a full investigation into the actions of ICE and other agencies involved in this operation.
I want the agents who ignored protocol and used force against me to be held accountable. And I want the public to know the truth: this raid didn’t just target immigrants. It hurt Americans too.
I will not stay silent.
I served this country, and now I’m demanding it do right by me.” Mr. George Retes and his dog

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More from @UFWupdates

United Farm Workers Profile picture
Jul 11
The UFW can confirm farm workers were critically injured yesterday during chaotic raids in Ventura County, CA. Other workers, including US citizens, remain unaccounted for.

UFW staff is on the ground supporting impacted families.

Our full statement below. ⬇️
1/ a line of heavily armed federal agents in riot gear standing in a field surrounded by tomato plants
Full statement:
2/ ufw.org/ufw-statement-…A black background with the words UFW Statement on July 10 Federal raid in Ventura County
The UFW can confirm farm workers were critically injured yesterday during chaotic raids in Ventura County, California. Others, including US citizens remain totally unaccounted for. 3/
Read 8 tweets
United Farm Workers Profile picture
Jun 11
We are aware of multiple federal operations impacting farm workers across California today. To all working people in California, remember: we are in this together. 1/ Border patrol truck coming into Oxnard fields where farm workers are laboring
Our full statement below:

2/. #WeFeedYouufw.org/ufw-statement-…
Estamos enterados de múltiples operaciones federales impactando a trabajadores agrícolas a través de California. A todos la gente trabajadora: lo enfrentaremos juntos. 3/ Border patrol truck coming into Oxnard fields where farm workers are laboring
Read 4 tweets
United Farm Workers Profile picture
Jan 8
UFW union members are among those detained while traveling home from work yesterday in Kern County, CA. We are providing them and their families with support.

Random actions like this are not meant to keep anyone safe, they are intended to terrorize hardworking people.
Please take time to know your rights, make a plan for your family, and show solidarity to coworkers and neighbors who are vulnerable. ICE ON THE STREET: WHAT TO DO IF: ICE Stops You on the Streets ASK "AM I FREE TO GO?" You have the right to ask if you are being detained. If they say "yes," walk away calmly. If they say "no," ask the officer why they are stopping you. You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to ask for an attorney, and you have right to not consent to a search. Remember to invoke these rights! You should not share any information or sign any documents with ICE agents until you can speak to an attorney. STAY CALM. Do not provide ICE agents with any false docume...
Miembros de la unión UFW se encuentran entre los detenidos mientras regresaban a sus hogares del trabajo ayer. Les estamos brindando apoyo a ellos y a sus familias.

Acciones al azar como esta no tienen como objetivo proteger a nadie, sino aterrorizar a las personas trabajadoras.
Read 4 tweets
United Farm Workers Profile picture
Oct 9, 2024
We have grave concerns about the ongoing desperate struggle of farm workers in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and we are deeply afraid of the destruction headed for Florida farm workers as Hurricane Milton approaches. 1/
Helene left a path of destruction, with many migrant farm worker labor camps struggling with minimal shelter, without power or communications, relying on a system of mutual aid volunteers for the bare basics.

Volunteers continue to check on labor camps and deliver supplies.
Florida brings more than 50,000 H2A foreign guest workers to work the fields each year.

Tens of thousands of H2A and domestic seasonal workers are in Florida right now. Many are in substandard or improvised housing, without vehicles, unable to self-evacuate.
Read 10 tweets
United Farm Workers Profile picture
Feb 21, 2024
On Feb 21 in Buffalo, NY, farm workers are rallying alongside community and labor allies outside the U.S. Courthouse.

The court will be hearing New York Vegetable Growers Association v. Hochul.

At stake: Do farm workers in New York have a right to organize?
Farm workers are mostly excluded from federal labor laws. In 2019, NY passed the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act which gives farmworkers the right to unionize in NY state. Since then we’ve won certification at 5 farms so far, with more pending. theguardian.com/us-news/2023/j…
Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers, told the Guardian that the victories were made possible by a four-year-old New York law - the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act - which gives farm workers a state-protected right to unionize and prohibits retaliation against farm workers seeking to organize. To ease unionization, the law requires farms to recognize a union once a majority of workers sign pro-union cards. "It's amazing. When the The laws change, workers really can win, Romero said.
Rather than recognize their workers choice to unionize the growers banded together to sue the state and stop the law. They target the fact that many workers who want to unionize are H2A workers. They want to overturn the whole law and strip ALL NY farm workers of their rights. New York Growers Are Fighting Farmworkers’ Right to Organize BY ALEX N. PRESS A lawsuit filed by New York growers challenges the right of farmworkers on H-2A visas to unionize. Win or lose, the lawsuit is posing an obstacle to the state’s farmworkers, who only won the right to collectively bargain in 2019.
Read 7 tweets
United Farm Workers Profile picture
Nov 22, 2023
As you begin preparing to gather with friends and family for a Thanksgiving meal, share your favorite holiday dishes and traditions below.

We’ll show you the skilled work it takes to plant, tend and harvest the food on your table. #WeFeedYou
While we wait for your replies to start rolling in, this is how those fresh and fragrant bundled herbs like Italian parsley get to your grocery store.
Listen: we can’t do #Thanksgiving without farm workers. You know that.

Make a donation (PLEASE) during this season of thanks and giving and help fund change all year long.

Or hey, paypal is here:

#WeFeedYouufw.org/thanksgiving20…
paypal.com/paypalme/ufwdo…
Read 21 tweets

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