CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals has issued a statement through its President, Jeff Freitas, condemning recent actions by federal agents in California. The statement criticizes the treatment of non-violent protestors and the denial of their First Amendment rights.
According to Freitas, “CFT vehemently condemns the ongoing violent actions against our communities in California and the abduction of non-violent protestors who are being denied their First Amendment rights.” The statement refers to incidents that occurred during raids on farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria, where workers were reportedly attacked and arrested without due process. The raids resulted in injuries, including the death of farmworker Jaime Alanis.
The CFT is aligning with the California Faculty Association in demanding the release of CSU Channel Islands professor Jonathan A. Caravello, who was detained during these events. “Professor Caravello and others were exercising their constitutional right to protest peacefully when Caravello was brutally tackled and detained by federal agents,” stated Freitas.
Freitas calls for an end to what he describes as a terror campaign by the Trump administration against immigrant communities, involving militarized ICE, DHS, and CBP agents. He states, “These are the actions of an authoritarian regime, not a democracy that is governed by a Constitution that has a Bill of Rights.”
CFT represents 120,000 educators and school employees across public and private institutions from early childhood through higher education. It is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
