Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta Arrested During A Protest In California

Civil rights activist, Dolores Huerta, was one of six protesters arrested by the police, for joining over 500 protestors in a calling on Fresno Board of Supervisors to support caregivers and care recipients with the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.

The local veterans, faith leaders, and social justice, along the 89-year-old civil rights icon are demanding a better pay for all the workers who care for the elderly and disabled. According to USA Today, the union said it's been over ten years since the workers received a raise.

“After nearly a year of recent negotiations with county representatives, these workers are going on 10 years without a wage increase," said

Huerta. "

Meanwhile

, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors have given themselves a hefty salary increase. I

decided to get

arrested when I saw the way the sheriffs were mistreating

Arnulfo De La Cruz

, Executive Vice President of SEIU Local 2015. He was standing there peacefully when they grabbed him by the neck."

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The activist said the local police were rough with the protesters despite it was a peaceful manifestation. "The sheriffs were behaving in a brutish and aggressive manner in response to our peaceful protest," she said. "I am proud to stand with the over 17,000 support caregivers and their care recipients. These workers save the county upwards of $50,000 a year in providing services to the county’s elderly and

differently abled

. They deserve a living wage!”

Fresno County sheriff's spokesperson Tony Botti said Huerta, Co-founder of the United Farm Workers union,

was apprehended for allegedly

failing to disperse after being issued an order to do so. She later

was released after being issued a ticket.

"

All of these supervisors make over $100,000 a year, while these people have gone without a wage increase for 11 years, and it's time. If supervisors can't take the heat, they should get out of the kitchen," Huerta told reporters.