Stand with Sister Nydia Sandoval on Monday!

SMART-TD members in Santa Monica and the surrounding areas are asked to turn out in full force on Monday morning to support Local 1785 Sister Nydia Sandoval, who was brutally assaulted on the job two weeks ago.  
 
Her attacker, Ryan Harvey, is scheduled for a court appearance on Monday, November 3 at 8:30 a.m. PT, and local leadership wants to make sure our union is well-represented to send a clear and unmistakable message: You don’t get to assault one of our own and walk away.  
 
The hearing will be held at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center (210 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles), and we urge all SMART and SMART-TD members who are able to stand with our union sister in solidarity.  

Recent Attack is Sandoval’s Fourth

A bus operator for the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Sister Sandoval was sucker-punched in the face by Harvey while she was trying to stop him from robbing and harassing two other women on her bus.  
 
As she told SMART News, this is the fourth time that Sister Sandoval has been the victim of an assault on duty. She has been sexually assaulted by a passenger, she has been hit, and at one point, a bus she was driving had its windows broken out by a man wielding a hatchet. This most recent attack left a gash on her face that required eight stitches.   

Your Presence is Power

Having our members turn out in full force at Monday’s hearing makes it clear to the court and the community that assaults on transit professionals will never be ignored, minimized, or tolerated.