Today, we celebrate the release of our union member, Rümeysa Öztürk, who was unjustly detained over a month ago by ICE and is now returning to her community here in Massachusetts. Throughout her detention, our union sibling has shown extraordinary courage. Her strength is the spirit of what drives the labor movement. We are thrilled to welcome her back home.
We are proud to have fought alongside her co-workers, labor allies, and community organizations for her release. We refused to be silent in the face of injustice. This is what solidarity looks like in action.
Now, our work continues. It’s important to keep fighting beyond this moment. We must continue showing up for Rümeysa and others who have been targeted by the systems that exploit and attack immigrant communities. These are the same systems that seek to strip all working people of our rights, power, and dignity. We will not let them divide us.
We are living in a time when fascist ideologies are becoming bolder and louder through scapegoating immigrants, criminalizing dissent, and dismantling worker protections. But the labor movement will not be intimidated. We know that our struggles are bound together.
We will continue to show up for Rümeysa now that she is free, to stand with all of our union siblings who have been targeted by ICE, and to fight for communities across the country who are living in fear of detention and deportation. Solidarity means no one gets left behind.
-Dave Foley, SEIU 509 President
