State of Washington, et al., v. Trump., et al

Filing 47

DECLARATION of Jeff Johnson filed by Amicus Washington State Labor Council re 46 MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Brief (Robbins, Jennifer)

THE HONORABLE JAMES L. ROBART

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

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STATE OF WASHINGTON,

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No. 2:17-cv-00141-JLR
Plaintiff,

v.

DECLARATION OF JEFF
JOHNSON

DONALD TRUMP, in his official capacity as
President of the United States; U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF SECURITY; JOHN F.
KELLY, in his official capacity as Secretary of
the Department of Homeland Security; TOM
SHANNON, in his official capacity as Acting
Secretary of State; and the UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,

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Defendants.
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I, Jeff Johnson, hereby declare as follows based on personal knowledge.

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1.

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I am the president of the Washington State Labor Council (“
WSLC” I have held
).

the position since 2010. Since 1986, I have held other positions with the WSLC, including
special assistant to the president, lead lobbyist, research and organizing director, and shop
steward for the administrative staff unit. I also sit on the Governor’ Council of Economic
s

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Advisors, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, the Washington State
Apprenticeship Council, the Board of Washington Community Action Network and Alliance for
Jobs and Clean Energy, and I serve as Co-Chair of the Washington State Blue Green Alliance.
DECLARATION OF JEFF JOHNSON - 1
Case No. 2:17-cv-00141-JLR

LAW OFFICES OF
SCHWERIN CAMPBELL
BARNARD IGLITZIN & LAVITT, LLP
18 WEST MERCER STREET SUITE 400
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98119-3971
[phone]

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2.

The WSLC is comprised of more than 600 local unions and represents more than

450,000 rank-and-file union members working in Washington State. It is widely considered to
be the “
voice of labor”in Washington State. WSLC has a strong interest in advocating for the
liberty interests of Washington State workers.

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3.

The WSLC provides many services to its affiliated unions. The Council has a

focus on legislative advocacy, political action, communication through its website “
The Stand,”

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supporting affiliated unions’ organizing drives by rallying community leaders and elected

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officials, and programs that provide affiliate and direct worker assistance like dislocated worker

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assistance, increasing student awareness about apprenticeship programs within community and

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technical colleges, Project Help, education and training for union members, and assistance for

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unions with contract and economic research.
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4.

On January 30, 2017, I issued the following statement regarding President Donald

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Trump’ Executive Order that bans all refugees from entering the country for 120 days, bans all
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refugees from Syria indefinitely, and bans immigrants and non-immigrants from seven majority-

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Muslim countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days:

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President Trump’ Executive Order on Friday de facto banning Muslims from
s
certain Middle Eastern countries from entering/re-entering the country for 90 days
went beyond the pale of common decency, human dignity, and further fans the
flames of racism, xenophobia, and anti-Islamism that he thoughtlessly spewed
during his campaign. Legal permanent residents, green card holders and vetted
refugees from certain Muslim countries — only countries where the Trump
Corporation has no business dealings — were detained at airports, refused entry,
and in some cases, sent back to the country they had just arrived from. This
reckless action further contributes to the rising attacks on Muslims and others in
America. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports a dramatic rise in hate
incidents over the past two years, now at 260,000 hate incidents a year. This
hateful and shameful Executive Order was met by thousands protesting at airports
across the country as well as an emergency stay against the Executive Order by a
federal judge.

DECLARATION OF JEFF JOHNSON - 2
Case No. 2:17-cv-00141-JLR

LAW OFFICES OF
SCHWERIN CAMPBELL
BARNARD IGLITZIN & LAVITT, LLP
18 WEST MERCER STREET SUITE 400
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98119-3971
[phone]

As union members and as a labor movement we stand with immigrants and
refugees. We cannot and will not allow the president to pick us off one group at a
time. Another leader did this in the 1930s and 1940s with horrific consequences.

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America was built by immigrants and refugees and they will continue to play a
part in the values upon which we define America.

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6.

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Among WSLC’ affiliated unions, unions who have signed a Solidarity Charter
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with the WSLC and other labor allies are unions whose members are directly impacted by the
Executive Order, because they are immigrants or non-immigrant temporary workers from one of

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the seven banned countries whose ability to travel into and out of the United States is prohibited
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outright or whose inability to re-enter the United States after travelling will put their livelihoods

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in jeopardy. Members are also affected because the ability of their families to travel into the

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United States is prohibited temporarily or indefinitely, disrupting the members’ family ties,

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personal freedoms and economic security. The members of unions affiliated or allied with

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WSLC affected by the ban include hospitality workers, retail employees, health care industry

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workers, laborers, factory workers, and state, county and municipal employees among others.

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These union members are exceptionally diverse, comprised of an array of races, nationalities,
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and religions.

The negative policies the United States government establishes concerning

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immigrants, non-immigrant visitors and refugees of certain national origins or religions reflects

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the attitudes the government has of its own citizens of those same national origins and religions –

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that they are less valued, less than equal. Such policies cause harm to our unions’members that

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cannot be undone.

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//

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//
//
//
DECLARATION OF JEFF JOHNSON - 3
Case No. 2:17-cv-00141-JLR

LAW OFFICES OF
SCHWERIN CAMPBELL
BARNARD IGLITZIN & LAVITT, LLP
18 WEST MERCER STREET SUITE 400
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98119-3971
[phone]

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Recognizing the injustice of President Trump’ Executive Order, labor unions
s

have spoken out emphatically against it. Attached hereto as Exhibit A are true and accurate
copies of some statements by organized labor, published on their websites in response to the
Executive Order.

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I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct.
Signed in _Olympia, WA__, Washington, this 2nd day of February, 2017.

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Jeff Johnson

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DECLARATION OF JEFF JOHNSON - 4
Case No. 2:17-cv-00141-JLR

LAW OFFICES OF
SCHWERIN CAMPBELL
BARNARD IGLITZIN & LAVITT, LLP
18 WEST MERCER STREET SUITE 400
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98119-3971
[phone]

DECLARATION OF SERVICE

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I hereby declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington that
on this 2nd day of February, 2017, I caused the foregoing Declaration of Jeff Johnson to be filed
with the Court using the cm/ecf system, which will automatically provide notification of such

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filing to:

Colleen M. Melody
Patricio A. Marquez
Marsha Chien
Office of the Attorney General
800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98104
Robert W. Ferguson
Anne E. Egeler
Noah G. Purcell
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 40100
Olympia, WA 98504-0100
Jacob Campion
Attorney General of Minnesota
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1100
St. Paul, MN 55101
Michelle R. Bennett
Arjun Garg
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch
20 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530

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Signed in Seattle, Washington, this 2nd day of February, 2017.

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Jennifer Woodward, Paralegal

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DECLARATION OF SERVICE - 5
Case No. 2:17-cv-00141-JLR

LAW OFFICES OF
SCHWERIN CAMPBELL
BARNARD IGLITZIN & LAVITT, LLP
18 WEST MERCER STREET SUITE 400
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98119-3971
[phone]

Exhibit A

 (/)

Contact:
Maria Ponce, [e-mail] (mailto:[e-mail]), 202-394-2139

Issued January 27, 2017

SEIU’s Sáenz: Trump’s executive actions are an attack on American
values that will hurt immigrant, Muslim and refugee families
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response President Trump’s announcement of a series of executive actions on
immigration and refugees, SEIU International Executive Vice President and iAmerica Action President Rocio Sáenz
issued the following statement:
“Another day brings another executive action that attacks immigrants, refugees and their families and
compromises American values. Earlier this week, President Trump followed through on his promise to
create a mass deportation force, turned the vast majority of immigrants into deportation priorities, fasttracked their deportation, and made mandatory detention the default for all immigrants, including families
and children ⩞�eeing persecution. Trump’s executive actions today will continue to intensify the
criminalization of immigrants.
“America should always be a nation that welcomes immigrant and refugee families and their contributions
to our communities and economy. Restrictions on immigration from predominantly Muslim countries
repudiate our own values and give license to others around the world to do the same or worse. Denying
refuge to persons ⩞�eeing persecution at a time when they are most in need of safety is morally wrong and
un-American.  It undermines our security because it harms the victims of persecution and violates our
international obligations.
“SEIU members and our communities will keep standing up for immigrants, refugees and their families,
despite these attacks. Tens of thousands rallied and marched in more than 70 cities throughout America on
Jan. 14, and we will use our collective power in the days and months ahead to prevent deportations and
protect immigrant families. We will build our movement so we can come back stronger in 2018 and 2020 to
win common sense immigration reform that works for working families.”

1800 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Trump refugee ban executive order is ‘appalling,’ UFW and UFW Foundation say

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Trump refugee ban executive order is 
‘appalling,’ UFW and UFW Foundation say
UFW Foundation Executive Director and United Farm Workers National Vice President Diana Tellefson
Torres issued the following statement from Los Angeles in response to President Trump’s executive
orders issued today and aimed at those who seek refuge in the United States:
Any type of refugee ban for any period of time is appalling and in direct opposition to long‐held
American values. Seeking refuge in the U.S is most often the last resort for those who face genuine
risk of persecution and can’t return to their countries from which they ‫ﻐ‬led. This ban not only turns
America's back on the world’s most oppressed people, it also undermines our nation’s founding
principles. We are a nation of immigrants, a nation that has historically offered refuge to the
oppressed. The UFW Foundation and UFW will continue standing ‫ﻐ‬irmly with immigrant and
refugee families, and denounces today’s executive actions.

For immediate release
January 29, 2017
Annemarie Strassel
[e-mail]

Statement by D. Taylor, President of
UNITE HERE, on President Trump’s Travel
Ban
<http://unitehere.org/wp-content/uploads/uniteherelogostacked.jpg>“With several executive orders this

week, President Trump has brought shame upon the United States and its rich
humanitarian legacy. He has put the lives of refugees, most of them children, fleeing for
their very lives, in danger once again.  His orders barring individuals holding green cards
and visas has created a humanitarian crisis and thrown our nation’s airports into chaos. He
has now established a religious test for our Nation, in spite of his denials of the truth once
again, by ordering that a Christian refugee child is more important than a Muslim refugee child. This is not only obscene, but
must certainly be against the Constitution of the United States which Mr. Trump only one  week ago publicly vowed to defend.
“Mr. Trump has singled out Muslim-majority countries for this ban ostensibly because they have produced terrorists who have
attacked the United States. Yet he exempts the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from which came the greatest number of these
terrorists, and some other countries, where he owns businesses, in an utter conflict of interest with security of the United
States.  Mr. Trump’s order betrays those who assisted our Nation in the war on terror sending them back to lands where their
lives are certainly at risk.
“Trump’s orders are fundamentally inhumane and reckless. They are un-American and unconstitutional. These orders can only
put our Nation, our citizens, and our allies at greater risk.
“Mr. Trump has also threatened to cut o虀� federal funding to “sanctuary” cities, where government o虀�icials are defying the
President’s anti-immigrant attacks to uphold the Constitution and preserve the peace. But we commend mayors in New York,
Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and beyond, who are declaring their cities sanctuary cities in defiance of Mr. Trump’s
unconstitutional and immoral directives. We demand that leaders in other American cities where our members live and work do
the same.
“As the Union of hospitality workers, including thousands of workers at airports across the US, we welcome travelers and
refugees from across the globe. We are proud to serve you. For the sake of our families, the people we serve and the values our
nation holds so dear, we will fight President Trump’s un-American attacks on travelers from Muslim countries and immigrants of
any ethnicity, race or creed.
“In the coming days and months ahead, Maria Elena Durazo, UNITE HERE’s General Vice President of Immigration, Civil Rights
and Diversity, will be leading our Union’s fight against this illegal and immoral policy.”

About UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE is an organization that represents 270,000 working people across North America. Our members in the U.S. and Canada
work in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries.
Our membership is diverse. We are predominantly women and people of color, and we hail from all corners of the planet.
Together, we are building a movement to empower immigrants and all workers across North America to achieve greater equality
and opportunity.

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