ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA: “WE MUST STAND TOGETHER AGAINST TRUMP’S AUTHORITARIAN AND UN-AMERICAN ATTACKS ON CALIFORNIA”

LOS ANGELES — Antonio Villaraigosa, former Speaker of the California Assembly and 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, released the following regarding U.S. Senator Alex Padilla being tackled and handcuffed after asking questions at U.S. Department Homeland Security press conference with Secretary Kristi Noem.
 
“The physical attack on U.S. Senator Alex Padilla for doing his job, representing the people of our state, is another example of the Trump Administration’s larger attack on California and our Democracy. Trump and his Administration are out of control, and they have gone too far.
 
“If they can manhandle Senator Padilla—one of the highest-ranking Mexican-Americans in the country—imagine the fear and force they have been unleashing on everyday workers with no title, no camera, and no protection.
 
“Last week, federal officers injured, detained and charged David Huerta, President of California’s Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and a U.S. citizen, for exercising his First Amendment right to observe and document the extreme raids on our community. This week, Trump threatened to arrest our Governor, and now our U.S. Senator has been assaulted for simply asking questions about military-style mass deportation raids and the unlawful federalization of the California National Guard.
 
“I stand with Senator Padilla, and we must all stand together against the Trump Administration’s authoritarian and un-American attacks on California.”

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