Farmworker Strike Begins July 16: What We Know
Breaking News
Back in June, we reported on a wave of fear spreading through California’s farmlands after multiple ICE raids left hundreds of undocumented workers detained and entire crops rotting in the fields. Now, those fears have sparked a national response.
From Wednesday, July 16 through Friday, July 18, farmworkers across the country are being called to participate in a three-day Strike for Dignity—a coordinated work stoppage and grocery store boycott meant to bring attention to the harsh conditions, legal precarity, and systemic exploitation of immigrant agricultural laborers.
What’s Happening:
Strike Dates: July 16–18
Main Demands:
Immediate halt to ICE raids targeting farmworkers
Legal protections and a pathway to citizenship
An end to what organizers call “modern-day slavery” in U.S. agriculture
Tactics: Walkouts from farm sites, rallies in key cities, and a consumer boycott of major grocery retailers that profit from farmworker labor
Who’s organizing the protest?
The primary organizer of this strike is Flor Martinez Zaragoza, a former undocumented farmworker and founder of a grassroots immigrant rights network. While Martinez Zaragoza has been praised for elevating worker voices and building momentum, there has also been growing public scrutiny over her tactics and transparency.
Some community members have raised questions on social media and in independent press circles regarding:
Lack of formal coalition-building with longstanding farmworker organizations like United Farm Workers (UFW)
Fundraising accountability
Communication breakdowns with allied media and grassroots reporters
We want to be clear: FAFO Newscast has reached out to Flor Martinez Zaragoza for an interview to better understand her plans, motivations, and transparency measures. As of this update, we have not received a response.
Still, this moment is much bigger than one figurehead.
The Bigger Picture:
The catalyst for this strike wasn’t abstract ideology—it was ICE raids, including one in early July that left scores of workers detained at cannabis farms in Southern California. These workers are the backbone of a billion-dollar agricultural economy. When they are detained, their families suffer. When they disappear, crops die on the vine.
This is a human rights issue.
What You Can Do:
Share verified information using the hashtag #HuelgaParaLaDignidad
Support local mutual aid groups offering direct assistance to workers. We recommend donating to The United Farm Workers. Click here for more information.
If you shop, consider skipping major grocery chains during the strike. Shop at your local grocery store and Farmers Market.
Keep asking questions—about the system, about labor conditions, and yes, even about movement leadership
We’ll continue reporting on this as it unfolds. The strike is happening, whether or not it has the polish or structure of a traditional labor campaign. Workers are angry. Families are scared. And the world is watching.
We stand with truth and accountability—always.
In community,
✊🏾 FAFO Newscast
“Feed each other. Fight together. Or perish.”
Protests don't work so it's time for resistance. It will bring home the economic value of Latino immigrants, perhaps more will even understand their human value.
Great organization, keep every one safe. Good Luck