AFM Local 47 Secretary/Treasurer Gail Kruvand, Project Director for Labor and Community Partnerships Kent Wong, and Vice President Marc Sazer.
Reverend James Lawson once said: “Non-violence is the science of how you create a world that practices justice, truth, and compassion.”
In response to the growing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting Los Angeles communities, over 1,400 people attended an historic Non-Violent Direct Action Training at the L.A. Convention Center on July 10, 2025, hosted by the LA County Federation of Labor.
Over 1,400 people attended the three-hour training seminar, the largest in Los Angeles history.
The interactive session offered a collaborative space to build courage, clarity, and community, and equipped participants with the principles and practical tools of non-violent direct action. Everyone in attendance was provided with a bilingual (English/Spanish) Know Your Rights card, available to download/print here.
The event featured a video program and a long list of empowering speakers including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler, District 13 Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler via special video message, and local labor union, faith, and community leaders. Kent Wong, project director for Labor and Community Partnerships and former director at the UCLA Labor Center, served as MC.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler, and District 13 Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez.
AFM Local 47 Communications Director Linda Rapka, Secretary/Treasurer Gail Kruvand, Vice President Marc Sazer, and member Tamer Maamoun pose for a post-training photo op.
AFM Local 47 Vice President Marc Sazer and Secretary/Treasurer Gail Kruvand served as trainers during the breakout sessions where everyone broke out into small groups to role-play various scenarios involving ICE attempting to detain civilians. Several Local 47 members were also in attendance. Rooted in a rich history of social change, the training covered strategy, group dynamics, creative protest methods, and how to stay grounded and safe during action.
