“What they’re afraid of right now is workers coming together in moments like this, in break rooms, on your neighborhood stoop, just hanging out, talking. Every conversation for all of us should be an organizing conversation,” Anijar said. “Every single one of us are going to be impacted by these cuts to Medicaid. Every single one of us are going to feel these hurts.”
Alongside nurses, labor leaders and community organizers condemned Trump’s immigration policies, namely using masked federal agents to intimidate and detain immigrants and federalizing the California National Guard in Los Angeles.
Kim Tavaglione, executive director of the San Francisco Labor Council, said those tactics are harming communities.
“He’s declared war on our communities. He’s declared war on our neighbors. Nobody really gave a shit whether or not their neighbors were legal or not legal. They are our neighbors, and they’re being kidnapped just to meet some stupid quota that makes no sense,” Tavaglione said. “He promised to take away criminals, but he’s taken away hard-working people that make our country work.”
Tavaglione said labor councils are pushing union members to attend Labor in the Pulpit this Labor Day weekend, where they speak before a local congregation about issues impacting the community in preparation for the midterm elections next year.
“You are more trusted than any politician on this earth. When you speak your truth, people listen,” Tavaglione said, referring to union members. “If you get your five minutes in front of them, your leaders, they will follow you. They will follow you to the polls. They will follow your judgment on who to vote for. And I’m here asking you to please participate.”
