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Indian-American State Senator arrested at Philadelphia worker protest
“I refuse to let my constituents be mistreated by a wealthy corporation that gets richer every year from exploiting their labor,” Saval said post his arrest.
State Senator Nikil Saval arrested and escorted away during the protest demanding better wages / Image - Pennsylvania State Democrats
State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) was arrested on June 12 while protesting a Aramark, a hospitality firm’'s treatment of stadium workers in Philadelphia.
The Indian American lawmaker joined hundreds of union members outside Aramark’s headquarters at 2400 Market Street to demand better wages and healthcare benefits for workers at the Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park, and Lincoln Financial Field.
Senator Saval issued a statement following his arrest, saying, “The labor of UNITE HERE workers is a crucial part of what makes Philadelphia great. They work year-round—in the blistering cold, in the sweltering heat—to ensure Philly’s residents and visitors enjoy the best possible experiences. And in return, Aramark has repeatedly devalued their labor, leaving them forced to choose between feeding their families, keeping their homes, or seeking potentially lifesaving medical care.”
“I refuse to let my constituents be mistreated by a wealthy corporation that gets richer every year from exploiting their labor. Their fight is my fight. I’m with them until they’re paid the wages and benefits they deserve,” he remarked.
The protest saw workers and supporters from other cities, including Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., rallying with a giant inflatable cigar-smoking "fat cat" and signs reading "Aramark unfair, Equal treatment now," according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Fifty people, including Saval, were arrested after blocking Market Street during rush hour.
Pennsylvania State Democrats in a statement criticized Aramark for offering only a $0.25 raise to Wells Fargo Center concessions workers despite earning over $18 billion in revenue in 2023. The release also highlighted that Aramark's healthcare proposal would leave many workers uninsured or reliant on government aid.
Elected in 2020 to represent Philadelphia’s First District, Saval has a background in labor advocacy, having worked as a labor organizer for UNITE HERE from 2009 to 2013.
He co-founded Reclaim Philadelphia, focusing on racial, gender, and economic justice. As a state senator, Saval has championed housing, climate, and worker justice, receiving high ratings from the ACLU for his legislative efforts against mass incarceration.
Saval, the son of Indian immigrants from Bangalore, continues to advocate for working families and social justice as he runs for re-election this year.
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