By Krysta Bisnauth, Freedom United

Dear ieyenews readers

Thanks to your efforts, we made it to almost 37,000 signatures on our petition calling on California to enact legislation to protect all temporary migrant workers from trafficking and exploitation.  

For over two years, we’ve lobbied big business in California, we’ve followed the lead of survivor advocates, we protested, we’ve made outreach to California’s legislative bodies and finally, when we got to the home stretch, we wrote, we called and we tweeted at the Governor of California.  

All of this should have been more than enough.  

But Gavin Newsom vetoed AB364 anyway.  

If you read his veto message, you’ll see that there was nothing we could have done differently to change his mind. Because Governor Newsom had no valid reason for rejecting AB364. Instead, he made up reasons as we examine here.  

On the upside, we know that we made an impact and got closer than ever to protecting all temporary migrant workers in California because Governor Newsom waited until his time was almost up to veto AB364. That means he thought long and hard before he did it.  

“GOVERNOR, WHEN YOU DO NOT RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO HARVEST YOUR FOOD AND LEAVE THEM WITHOUT LEGAL SAFETY MEASURES YOU WILL EVENTUALLY HARBEST WHAT YOU DESERVE.  I LONG FOR THE DAY WHEN MIGRANT WORKERS REFUSE TO WORK IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT RESPECTED AS THEY DESERVE TO BE.” – Sue Horwood, Freedom United community member

We know you’re frustrated because we are too.  

So, what now?  

We’re not going to stop advocating for migrant workers and we know you won’t either.  

In the meantime, share your thoughts and comments for Governor Newsom. We’ll pass them onto him. 

Thank you once again for all your support.  

Krysta and the team that supports the Freedom United community

Krysta Bisnauth Freedom United

[1] https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AB-364-VETO.pdf?emrc=6dda63