In the wake of growers’ continuing push to annul an emergency public health order requiring employers to protect field laborers from COVID-19, farm workers and advocates will affirm the urgent need for measures that protect essential workers from COVID-19, such as testing in agricultural communities. The Michigan state health order issued on Aug. 3 requires employers to provide free coronavirus testing and safe housing for migrant farm workers that test positive. It was met with a lawsuit filed in Grand Rapids, Michigan federal court falsely claiming the public health order discriminates against Latinos. The lawsuit is backed by the Michigan Farm Bureau and uses a handful of farm employees as plaintiffs.
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, the United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation and other groups filed a legal brief in support of the public health order on Aug. 20. The following day, Aug. 21, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan denied the industry request for an emergency preliminary injunction that would have blocked the state order. The industry plaintiffs in the suit filed an appeal of that ruling on Aug. 24. The district court of appeals is expected to rule on the appeal this week.
The virtual press conference on Thursday will feature farm workers describing their experiences with COVID-19. UFW President Teresa Romero, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Supervising Attorney Diana Marin, Felipe Lopez Sustaita of the Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan, and community advocates will discuss why they are supporting the public health order and the need for additional protections.
Who:
- Farm workers
- UFW Foundation
- Teresa Romero, UFW President
- Diana Marin, Supervising Attorney of Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
- Felipe Lopez Sustaita, Executive Director, Hispanic Latino Commission Of Michigan
- Community advocates
What: Farm workers and advocates commenting on Michigan’s public health order providing free access to COVID-19 testing for agricultural workers.
When: 1 p.m. EST, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.
Where: The press conference will stream live via Zoom. Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89773903727?pwd=RVJPUGlUdTkvM3lIYWFVN09VYmIzdz09
Meeting ID: 897 7390 3727
Passcode: 748998
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