Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, alderwoman, 33rd Ward, Chicago City Council.

Last year, Donald Trump sent his ICE troops into immigrant and Latino communities across the country. I was physically assaulted by ICE in June when I advocated for my neighbors at an immigration facility.

Protesting ICE is not a crime. That’s my response to news that Nadia Topete of Centro CSO in Los Angeles has been subpoenaed to a federal grand jury for a second time.

Nadia did nothing wrong. All she did was exercise her right to speak out against the violence being perpetrated against her Chicano and Latino immigrant community.

I am from Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rican movement has been subjected again and again to grand juries. We know that grand juries are a prosecutorial tool to produce indictments instead of justice.

I understand this also could be an attempt to re-examine the case of Alejandro Orellana, another immigrant’s rights activist in LA who participated in the anti-ICE protests last year. Alejandro was charged with conspiracy to commit civil unrest. The false charges were later dropped.

When I confronted ICE last year, I said, “We would do whatever we can to help anyone in need.” I took that stand a year ago; I take that stand today.

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #CentroCSO #Featured

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Byron Sigcho-Lopez, the Chicago City Council member representing the 25th Ward.

The Trump administration is again intensifying the repression against immigrant, Latino and Chicano communities across the country. I add my voice to those speaking up to defend Nadia Topete in Los Angeles.

Nadia is an immigrant rights activist with the organization Centro Community Service Organization (CSO). Like many thousands of young people, she rose up to defend her community when ICE terrorized the LA barrios in 2025.

She is being subpoenaed for a second time to appear in front of a federal grand jury. Our movement is well aware that grand juries are unconstitutional tools of political repression.

Nadia acted heroically when she went out to protest ICE last year, and she is again showing real courage. We know Nadia has not committed any crime: it’s the Trump administration and ICE that are guilty of violating the rights of our communities, brutalizing us, breaking up families, and murdering members of the immigrant community, such as Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in a Chicago suburb.

This is a very serious attack on our movement. Nadia Topete is a courageous immigrant rights activist who deserves our support.

Hands off Nadia Topete!

#ChicagoIL #IL #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #NadiaTopete #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #Featured

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

The National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression strongly condemns the Department of Justice’s second round of the campaign of intimidation and repression against Nadia Topete, a proud Chicana immigrant rights activist and member of Centro CSO in Los Angeles. Nadia has been subpoenaed a second time to appear in front of a judge and federal grand jury on Wednesday July 8th, following an FBI visit to her home on May 20th.

This is part of a wider targeting of the immigrant rights movement by the Trump administration and DOJ, which is now circling back to Los Angeles to silence organizers and create an atmosphere of fear that keeps people out of the streets. Our movement will not be silent, and we stand with Nadia, Centro CSO and all those facing repression.

We understand the DOJ’s attacks as a reaction to the powerful rebellion against ICE terror in Los Angeles last February, which sparked a national wave of uprisings across the country. The Trump administration is fishing for charges and unjustly targeting Nadia and other members of Centro CSO over baseless claims, to try and criminalize protest. This is a clear-cut act of racist and political repression. The real criminal entity is ICE, terrorizing immigrant communities kidnapping people off the streets, and unleashing deadly violence in our neighborhoods.

The Trump administration is making it clear they are intensifying their repression, and now is the time for us to stand together and answer the call to defend our movements and activists.

Hands off Nadia Topete!

End the DOJ and FBI targeting of immigrant rights activists!

ICE out of our communities!

##InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #NadiaTopete #NAARPR #CentroCSO #ImmigrantRights

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following call from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

On July 1, law enforcement came to the home of Chicana immigrants’ rights activist and Centro CSO member, Nadia Topete, to deliver a second subpoena ordering her to speak in front of a grand jury on July 8. Topete had been first subpoenaed to testify in June. The Committee to Stop FBI Repression condemns this second subpoena of Topete and will fight against any attempt to jail her.

We now know that this grand jury is related to the anti-ICE activism in Los Angeles that took place last summer. We also have every reason to believe that this is an attempt to re-examine the case of Alejandro Orellana, another immigrant’s rights activist who participated in the anti-ICE protests last year. Orellana was charged with conspiracy to commit civil unrest. The bogus charges were later dropped.

Nothing good comes of speaking in front of a grand jury. Grand juries, nine times out of ten, result in indictments, and they are frequently used against activists. Not testifying against one’s fellow activists can mean jail time. Those who refuse to testify in front of grand juries are heroes. We should learn from their example and exercise that kind of courage in order to protect our movements from harm.

Neither Topete nor Orellana did anything wrong by protesting against the ICE occupation of Los Angeles. Nor did Topete do anything wrong by not speaking about her activism in front of the grand jury. We ask all fair-minded people to stand with Nadia Topete. She has only ever done the right thing, which is to stand by the Chicano people and the people of Aztlán. We call upon our supporters to dial into the office of Assistant US Attorney Michael Wheat and demand, Hands Off Nadia Topete!

When: July 6, Monday, from 9am to 5pm PDT

Who: call both

1. Bilal Essayli, US Attorney Central District Office Line @ (714) 338-3500, press 0

2. Assistant US Attorney Michael Wheat @ (619) 557-5610

Script:

“I am [NAME] calling from [STATE] and I am outraged that Nadia Topete could be jailed for refusing to testify in front of a grand jury. I demand the grand jury investigation of immigrant rights activists be shut down. She did nothing wrong. Hands Off Nadia Topete!”

#InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #NadiaTopete #CSFR #CentroCSO #ImmigrantRights #Featured

Adelanto, CA – On Saturday, June 13, immigrant rights organizations from around Southern California held a caravan and rally outside of the Adelanto Detention Center. The rally was led by Centro CSO, alongside CSO Orange County, NELA for Democracy, Defend Migrant Alliance – SOCAL, and No Camps California. The rally took place as part of the Legalization for All Network’s Weekend of Action with the main demand being to shut down all detention centers.

For weeks, detained immigrants have carried out hunger strikes at the Adelanto Detention Center in Adelanto, California and the Delaney Hall Detention Center in New Jersey. To show their solidarity, dozens of protesters outside the Adelanto Detention Center waved signs, and chanted “Free them all!” The hunger strikes were called by immigrants due to the lack of medical treatment and the inhumane treatment within the centers.

Verita Topete, co-chair of Centro CSO’s immigration committee, said, “Six years ago, I stood outside the Adelanto protesting while my father was detained inside. A hunger strike was happening at the time as people risked everything in order to demand dignity, safety and humane treatment. Six years later, history is repeating itself. We are back here in solidarity with the hunger strikers at Adelanto and Delaney Hall in New Jersey.”

The protesters hung posters of detainees who have died while in ICE custody, with several of those lives being taken inside the Adelanto Detention Center. Speakers emphasized just how inhumane the conditions are, and the lack of medical treatment detainees face.

Centro CSO in particular uplifted their campaign to free Alex Hernandez who has been wrongfully detained in Adelanto for months. CSO has led call-in days and other actions to demand Hernandez be freed and reunited with his family.

Rain Mendoza from CSO Orange County stated, “It's important to show solidarity with the courageous striking detainees and all immigrant detainees in detention centers. The treatment they are facing inside the detention centers is absolutely unacceptable. People are dying inside! We demand all detention centers be shut down. Free our people now”

If you would like to join the struggle to defend immigrant rights in Los Angeles and win Legalization for All, you can follow @CentroCSO on Instagram to find out about upcoming meetings and actions.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #CentroCSO #ImmigrantRights #DetentionCenter #Adelanto

Los Angeles, CA – On the morning of June 11, a Chicano man was shot and killed by the California Highway Patrol. The homicide occurred on a stretch of the 101 Freeway in Boyle Heights. The freeway closed for several hours. The person who was shot was later reported to be dead. Video of the shooting surfaced online showing a CHP cop with a gun drawn on a man.

Also, on June 9, a Chicano man was also shot in Boyle Heights, this time by LAPD. Video showed the man lying on the ground in need of medical attention after being shot, while the cops were just standing around. This person was finally taken to a hospital where they were reported to be in critical condition. As always with police shootings, little is known as cops delay and withhold releasing information.

Two shootings by police in two days is alarming, especially when LAPD is the most murderous police force in the United States, killing at least 166 people in the period of 2013-2022. LAPD is particularly deadly in Boyle Heights, where LAPD has shot at least 20 people since 2016. In 2016, LAPD shot and killed five Chicanos in Boyle Heights.

Centro CSO, alongside the impacted Chicano families, have been on the frontlines fighting back against police terror. The murder of the man who was shot on June 11 by California Highway Patrol officers is now being investigated by the Attorney General under Assembly Bill 1506, which investigates police shootings of unarmed people.

Centro CSO will continue to keep a close eye on these two shootings and will report any new information they find.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA – On June 3, Centro CSO held a press conference at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights demanding that the state keep its hands off Nadia Topete. On May 20, Topete, a Chicana immigrant rights activist with Centro CSO, was served a subpoena by the FBI demanding that she testifies in front of a grand jury. She did not appear at the grand jury proceedings, which were set for the same day.

Press conference organizers state, “Nadia bravely refused to rat on her fellow activists who did nothing wrong, risking serious jail time. Cases of blatant political repression like this one have continued to intensify in the wake of Trump’s racist, reactionary agenda. Nadia Topete’s determination is a strong example of the people’s refusal to back down.”

At the press conference, Centro CSO member Verita Topete, Nadia’s sister and herself a victim of FBI repression, led attendees in chants of “When we fight, we win!”

“Our enemies are trying to find ways to attack us, but we won’t stand down. This is a fight we are willing to take. We will win,” said Henry Cornejo, a Teamster at UPS and member of Centro CSO.

Carlos Montes, a longtime Chicano activist and member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization who has experienced political repression over the decades, said, “Federal grand juries have been used by the Trump administration to go after immigrant rights activists. We are united to denounce the use of the grand jury and the FBI by the Trump administration and the U.S. Attorney’s office to harass and intimidate activists who oppose Trump’s attacks on our immigrant community.”

In order to support Topete, the Committee to Stop FBI Repression is requesting donations: tinyurl.com/csfrdonate.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #CSFR #CentroCSO #NadiaTopete #Featured

Los Angeles – May 30 marked the two-year angelversary for Hugo Cachua, an Amazon driver who was shot six times and murdered on May 30, 2024, in Ontario, California, after a fender-bender with off-duty LAPD officer Victor Corral.

Two years have passed and no criminal charges have been filed against Corral for the killing of Cachua, despite the California Department of Justice opening a case regarding the shooting, as required under AB 1056 for all officer-involved shootings of unarmed civilians. The case remains “under investigation” and Corral was allowed to return to active duty.

The angelversary was organized by United Families for Justice and held at LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The angelversary started with a picket where impacted family members and allies held up signs and banners demanding justice for Hugo Cachua and for charges to be brought against Corral.

Afterwards, members from the Cachua family and other impacted families gave speeches in solidarity. Melissa Miramontes, sister of Hugo Cachua said, “Two years is too long. 24 months and this year on Hugo's angelversary our family, impacted families, Centro CSO and other advocates took our fight for justice to LAPD HQ. We chose to uplift Hugo's name where the heartless LAPD commissioners and Chief of Police McDonald have considered Hugo Cachua's murder justified and in policy.”

Miramontes asked, “How, when Victor Corral was off duty and an inactive police officer for over 1.5 years, what policy did he really fall under? He broke policy engaging in mutual combat and the truth is his discriminating action will be exposed. No matter the rulings, even after the courts, we will still fight for what's right, demanding accountability and justice for Hugo Cachua and all impacted loved ones whose lives were ripped away at the hands of law enforcement. The LAPD is one of the dirtiest and heartless departments in America and needs to be exposed.”

Other speakers included Patricia de Arman, sister of Chris de Arman, who was killed by San Diego PD in 2023; Diana Sullivan and Sam Sulllivan, mother and sister of David Sullivan, who was killed by Buena Park PD in 2019; and Sharon Watkins, mother of Philip Watkins, who was killed in 2015 by San Jose PD pigs. The family of Fransico Nunez who was killed by LASD were there in solidarity.

Members of Centro CSO, an organization in Boyle Heights that fights against the crimes of LAPD and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department also showed up in support. The protest included chants of “Victor Corral, lock him up!” Dozens of drivers honked in support as they passed by including city bus drivers.

Luis Cachua, Hugo’s younger brother, spoke of the need for accountability, saying, “We need to hold the people accountable for this.” He promised to keep fighting until justice is served, stating, “This day will never stop until we find justice.”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #CentroCSO

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

On May 20, Nadia Topete was visited by two FBI agents and served a subpoena demanding that she testify in front of a grand jury on June 3. Even now, it is not known why she is being subpoenaed; all we know is that she is an immigrants rights activist and an outspoken political Chicana organizer. She refused to go and testify, the penalty to which can be prison time without a known end date. Topete is a hero who stood with the people and the movement at a potentially huge cost to herself and her freedom. We in the Committee to Stop FBI Repression say, “Hands Off!” and we will fight any attempt to jail her, tooth and nail.

Grand juries, nine times out of ten, result in indictments. They do not permit the person being questioned to be in the room with a lawyer, nor to present a defense of any kind, nor even any witnesses. There would have been nothing but Topete and the prosecutors interrogating her and looking for somebody to indict. The result of refusing to go is often jailtime without knowing when you would get out. She did the right, brave thing by saying no. Every activist reading this statement needs to learn from her example.

Topete did nothing wrong. Neither did the other members of the activist group she is in, Centro CSO in Los Angeles, who were charged by the federal government after their participation in the anti ICE uprising in Los Angeles in 2025, such as Alejandro Orellana whose charges were dropped. They did nothing wrong either. We view this as a political attack on activists in Los Angeles, and we say a loud, resounding “No!” to political repression. We say, “Hands Off Nadia Topete!” We will do whatever it takes to defend her, a true daughter of Aztlán.

#InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #NadiaTopete #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #CSFR #Featured

Los Angeles, CA – On the morning of Wednesday, May 20, Nadia Topete, a Chicana organizer with Centro Community Service Organization (CSO), was served with a subpoena to appear June 3 in front of a grand jury.

The subpoena was signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G Wheat. Nadia Topete did nothing wrong and this is an attack on the immigrant rights movement and on Centro CSO.

In June of 2025, Centro CSO member Alejandro Orellana was raided by the FBI, National Guard and East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. A week later, Verita Topete, the sister of Nadia Topete, was ambushed by FBI Agents and her phone was seized. The agents had a search warrant but have yet to give her phone back.

Due to a nationwide defense campaign, charges against Alejandro Orellana were dropped, Verita Topete was not charged, and Centro CSO assumed the FBI witch hunt was over. Almost a year later, Topete is now being targeted by the United States. She is being ordered to appear at the Orange County Federal Courthouse.

Carlos Montes, a longtime Centro CSO leader and Chicano activist, stated, “Nadia is actively advocating for our community, this federal subpoena is just an intimidating tactic by the Trump government.”

Centro CSO is committed to fighting back against this act of political repression and its members will not be intimidated.

Follow @CentroCSO on social media for any updates.

#LosAngelesCA #PoliticalRepression #InJusticeSystem #GrandJury #CentroCSO #Featured

Los Ángeles, CA – En la mañana de abril 20, el movimiento contra los crímenes policiales en Los Ángeles ganó una gran victoria ya que un juez dictó que el caso civil de Joseph Perez contra la Ciudad de Los Ángeles iba a proceder. Docenas – principalmente chicanos, afroamericanos, e incluso coreanos que han sufrido violencia policial y están en las calles luchando en contra – llenaron el Juzgado Stanley Mosk para exigir justicia por Joseph Perez.

En 2020, Joseph Perez fue brutalmente golpeado por miembros de pandillas de ayudantes del sheriff usando el nombre “Indians” y quienes operaban desde la estación del Sheriff de City of Industry. Una pandilla de ayudantes de sheriff está conformada por oficiales policiales que participan en golpizas, plantar evidencia, e incluso ejecuciones extrajudiciales. Los oficiales pandilleros se identifican uno al otro con un tatuaje de la pandilla, el cual consiguen cometiendo crímenes en el fomento de su pandilla. Algunas pandillas como los “Banditos” de la subestación del Sheriff del Éste de los Ángeles y los “Executioners” de la subestación de Compton son conocidos a nivel nacional e incluso internacional por sus crímenes. Los Indians de Industry son bien conocidos por aquellos que aterrorizan pero son una de las pandillas más nuevas.

El Condado de LA quería que este caso civil fuera denegado pero Vanessa Perez, la madre de Joseph Perez, y sus defensores lucharon contra el condado. El juez dictó que el caso pasará a juicio en septiembre de 2027, una gran victoria y lo que Vanessa Perez quería.

El Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste! entrevistó a Vanessa Perez en los escalones del juzgado inmediatamente después del fallo.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: Estamos afuera del juzgado con Vanessa Perez, ¿puedes decirnos qué ocurrió hoy?

Vanessa Perez: El juez fue y acordó que avanzaremos al siguiente paso y volveremos a la corte por Joseph. El siguiente paso que vamos a conseguir es el descubrimiento y averiguaremos qué le hicieron a Joseph.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Lo que quieren es que el Condado de los Ángeles y el Departamento de Sheriff de Los Ángeles sean llevados a juicio por lo que le hicieron a Joseph?

Perez: Sí, básicamente. Queremos la verdad.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cómo se ve la justicia para usted?

Perez: Lo que le pedimos al juez hoy fue que dejara que el caso avanzara para mejor entender lo que le pasó a Joseph. Joseph es una persona de piel morena con problemas de desarrollo y de salud mental. Él es el tipo exacto de persona que es estadísticamente más probable de sufrir violencia policial en su vida. El sistema de justicia debería ser flexible con personas como Joseph para que estos casos puedan ser escuchados y la policía sea responsabilizada por abusar a personas vulnerables como mi hijo. Hoy estamos luchando por Joseph para que algo pueda terminar de forma diferente para otros como él, para que la próxima madre que llame al 911 buscando ayuda para su hijo en crisis no tenga que tener miedo de que algo terrible le pase como lo que le hicieron a Joseph. Vamos a continuar luchando adentro y afuera de este juzgado hasta que veamos que ese mundo sea una realidad.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Hay algo más que quisiera añadir?

Perez: Hemos estado intentando lo posible para conseguir justicia para Joseph Perez pero el sistema no está hecho para personas como él. En vez de recibir la asistencia física y mental que él necesitaba, pasó dos años encarcelado por la golpiza que recibió mientras que estos oficiales pandilleros están golpeando a otros niños allá afuera.

El oficial Shawn Merrick y el oficial Adam Nelson ambos son miembros confirmados de la pandilla Industry Indians. Ellos junto a sus aprendices Jake Adamo y Sabastian Pombal golpearon a Joseph Perez. También golpean a adolescentes jóvenes afuera de una bolera de Montclair donde los oficiales fueron arrestados y Merrick y Nelson admitieron ser parte de una pandilla. Estos cuatro agentes fueron despedidos. Vincent Rodriguez, Paul Saldana, y Abraham Rivera son otros oficiales que golpearon a Joseph Perez y siguen siendo policías.

Centro CSO – una organización comunitaria que lucha contra los crímenes policiales en Boyle Heights y el Este de los Ángeles – han apoyado a Vanessa Perez en su lucha por la justicia. En diciembre de 2025, hicieron historia juntos al tener la primera protesta afuera de la estación de Sheriff de Industry. Para seguir al tanto de esta lucha por la justicia, sigan a @JusticeforJosephPerez y @CentroCSO.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, May 1, 500 Chicano community members and activists gathered at Mariachi Plaza to rally and march for the 11th annual May Day protest in Boyle Heights. More than 50 different community organizations, unions and local businesses helped put on the event, and were joined by students who walked out of Roosevelt, Garfield and Ed Roybal high schools.

The organizations urged workers fight back, demanding legalization for all, an end to war and police brutality, and to fund public education.

This year’s May Day marks 20 years since the 2006 protests, La Gran Marcha, where millions of immigrants marched against the Sensenbrenner Bill (HR 4437), which aimed to criminalize undocumented immigrants.

“This is the 20-year anniversary to the 2006 mega-marches where Raza and a lot of working class immigrants walked off the job, didn’t go to school and shut the city down by taking the streets in downtown LA,” said Centro CSO immigration co-chair Verita Topete.

The event began with a blessing from Father Brendan from the Dolores Mission church, followed by a rally which included speakers from Centro CSO, Legalization for All, Proyecto Pastoral, About Face, Union De Vecinos, the People’s Care Collective, Immigo and Teamsters Local 396.

Sara Venegas, an Amazon driver who recently unionized with Teamsters Local 396 and then went on an unfair labor practice strike after Amazon retaliated against their union said, “They thought they could kill the fire in our hearts, but they’ve strengthened the flame, and now we’re on a ULP strike. Let’s hold big corporations like Amazon accountable.”

The group took to the streets to march across 1st Street Bridge, chanting “¡Se ve, se siente, el pueblo está presente!” and demands for legalization for all and an end to U.S. wars. As speakers from Black Lives Matter LA and Freedom Road Socialist Organization addressed the crowd, LAPD helicopters hovered above, telling the group to disperse and stop blocking traffic. The police also sent out an Amber Alert to everyone in the area stating that people should avoid the area because an “Unlawful assembly declared.”

Gabriel Quiroz Jr. from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization commented on the ongoing police violence against May Day protests from the Haymarket riots in Chicago, to the streets of Los Angeles today, “The first protest I ever attended was May Day in 2007 at MacArthur Park. I got to see the power of organized Raza. I also got to see political repression by LAPD.”

As the march turned back towards Boyle Heights, speakers from the Palestinian Youth Movement, ILPS, the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, and Gabriela LA spoke on the how U.S. imperialism affects other countries and the need for working and oppressed people of the world to come together to fight back against it.

“The corrupt Philippine government sold out our country to the United States and the imperialists. They are responsible for the displacement and migration of our people. We are here in solidarity with the working class here in Los Angeles and abroad. Many migrate here for better opportunities, promised the American dream and yet they struggle,” said a member of Gabriela LA.

As the sun set over the march, the crowd danced back into Mariachi Plaza. Throughout the program the speakers encouraged the crowd to join an organization to build the fight against Trump and for an even bigger and more united May Day protest next year.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Labor #ImmigrantRights #MayDay #FRSO #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA — On the morning of April 29, Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) and other organizations announced the 11th Annual May Day rally.

The press conference took place at Mariachi Plaza, with live music and speeches. Speakers announced that a celebration and march of International Workers Day is set to take place in Boyle Heights at 3 p.m., May 1, at Mariachi Plaza. The event will include live music, resource tables and a march to downtown.

Reuben Navarrete, a Teamster, stated, “We want to unite all workers on May Day. Teamsters are made up of immigrants, and we will continue to be immigrants! This is why our demands on Friday will include legalization for all as well as stop the war on Iran. Join us on May Day!”

The resonating demands of this year’s May Day in Boyle Heights include: “Workers: stand up, fight back! ¡Raza si, guerra no! Legalization for all! No kids in cages! Stop police brutality! Fund public education!”

Led by CSO members Roberto Anguiano and Verita Topete, the press conference previewed what is to come on May 1.

Gabriel Quiroz Jr, who helps lead the Police Accountability Committee of Centro CSO remembered the 2007 May Day in Los Angeles. Quiroz Jr. said, “In 2007, I was a young Chicano at my first protest. It took place at MacArthur Park. I had never seen so much Raza and I remember thinking how powerful Chicanos can be when we are organized. As a youth I knew that type of Chicano power intimidated the system and that is why LAPD repressed the peaceful protest. That continues to happen today, but we keep fighting and the Chicano movement is only getting stronger.”

Other speakers were Pat Alviso of Military Speaks Out, Takoune Norasingh of Veterans for Peace, Kathy Carreño of IMMIGO, Enrique Velasquez of Proyecto Pastoral, and Sol Márquez of Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Enrique Velasquez with Proyecto Pastoral said, “It is important to express our anger and discontent with the current administration. We are against the terror they have inflicted on our low-income and immigrant communities. We hope to see you Friday!”

If you are interested in attending this year’s annual and peaceful May Day in Boyle Heights, join the event on Friday, May 1 at 3 p.m.. The program begins at 4 p.m. and the march is planned for 5 p.m.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay #CentroCSO #ChicanoLatino

Los Angeles, CA – On the morning of April 20, the movement against police crimes in Los Angeles won a major victory as a judge ruled that Joseph Perez’s civil case against the City of Los Angeles would proceed. Dozens – mainly Chicanos, African Americans and even Koreans who have experienced police violence and are on the ground in Los Angeles fighting back – packed the Stanley Mosk Courthouse to demand justice for Joseph Perez.

In 2020, Joseph Perez was brutally beaten by sheriff deputy gang members using the name “Indians” and who operated out of the City of Industry Sheriff's Station. A deputy gang is made up of police officers who participate in beatings, planting of evidence, and even extrajudicial executions. The deputy gangsters identify each other with a deputy gang tattoo, which they earn by committing crimes in the furtherance of their gang. Some deputy gangs like the “Banditos” out of the East Los Angeles sheriff’s substation and the “Executioners” out of Compton substation are known nationally and even internationally for their crimes. The Industry Indians are well known to those who they terrorize but are one of the newer deputy gangs.

LA County wanted this civil case to be dismissed but Vanessa Perez, the mother of Joseph Perez, and their supporters struck a blow to the county. The judge ruled that the case will move on to trial in September of 2027, a big win and what Vanessa Perez wanted.

Fight Back! interviewed Vanessa Perez on the courthouse steps immediately after the ruling.

Fight Back!: We’re outside the courthouse with Vanessa Perez, can you let us know what happened today?

Vanessa Perez: The judge went ahead and agreed that we will move forward to the next step and we’re coming back to court for Joseph. The next step we’re going to end up getting is the discovery and we will find out what they did to Joseph.

Fight Back!: What you want is that that Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department be put on trial for what they did to Joseph?

Perez: Yes, pretty much. We want the truth.

Fight Back!: What does justice look like to you?

Perez: What we asked the judge today is to allow the case to move forward so that we can understand better what happened to Joseph. Joseph is a person of brown skin with development issues and mental health issues. He is the exact kind of person who is statistically more likely to experience police violence in his lifetime. The justice system should be flexible with people like Joseph so these cases can be heard and the police can be held accountable for abusing vulnerable people like my son. Today we are fighting for Joseph so something might go differently for others like him, so that the next mother who calls 911 seeking help for their child in crisis doesn't have to be afraid that something terrible will happen like what they did to Joseph. We will continue to fight in and out of this courtroom until we see that world become a reality.

Fight Back!: Is there anything else you would want to add?

Perez: We have been trying our best to get justice for Joseph Perez but the system is not built for people like him. Instead of getting physical and mental healthcare that he needed, he spent two years incarcerated for the beating that was done to him while these deputy gang members are beating other kids out here.

Deputy Shawn Merrick and Deputy Adam Nelson are both confirmed Industry Indians deputy gang members. Together with their trainees Jake Adamo and Sabastian Pombal, they beat Joseph Perez. They also beat young teens outside of a Montclair bowling alley where the deputies were arrested and Merrick and Nelson admitted to being part of a deputy gang. These four deputies were later fired. Vincent Rodriguez, Paul Saldana and Abraham Rivera are other deputies who beat Joseph Perez and are still on duty.

Centro CSO – a community organization that fights back against police crimes in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles – has supported Vanessa Perez in her fight for justice. In December of 2025, they made history together by having the first protest outside of the Industry Sheriff’s Station. To stay updated with this fight for justice, follow @JusticeforJosephPerez and @CentroCSO.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #JosephPerez #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #KillerCop #LASD #CentroCSO #CSO

Los Ángeles, CA – Durante las primeras horas de la mañana del 1 de abril, oficiales del Departamento del Sheriff del Este de Los Ángeles le dispararon y mataron a Erik Torres, de 29 años, mientras él atravesaba una crisis de salud mental. Aunque Torres no estaba armado y necesitaba ayuda, los oficiales lo asesinaron.

Los medios de comunicación locales reportaron incorrectamente que hubo un intercambio de disparos entre Torres y los oficiales, lo que provocó un enfrentamiento de varias horas. Sin embargo, este informe inicial de que Torres estaba armado y de que hubo un intercambio de disparos con los oficiales ha resultado ser falso.

El caso ahora está siendo investigado por el Departamento de Justicia de California y el Fiscal General Rob Bonta, conforme a la Ley 1506 de la Asamblea de California (AB 1506), la cual exige que el departamento investigue “todos los incidentes de disparos en el estado que involucren a un oficial y que resulten en la muerte de un civil desarmado”, según el sitio web de la Oficina del Fiscal General.

Incluso los oficiales del Departamento del Sheriff de Los Ángeles han tenido que admitir esto: Erik Torres no tenía un arma cuando le dispararon y lo mataron, y no hubo ningún “intercambio de disparos”. El Departamento del Sheriff de Los Ángeles asesinó a sangre fría a Erick Torres.

Después del fatal tiroteo, miembros de Centro CSO se pusieron en contacto con la familia, quienes de inmediato rechazaron la narrativa que impulsaban los medios y el departamento. El hermano de Torres dejó claro que los oficiales del Departamento del Sheriff habían respondido regularmente a llamadas en la residencia de los Torres y estaban al tanto de los problemas de salud mental de su hermano. La noche del incidente, la familia les informó a los oficiales que Torres no estaba armado, pero los oficiales ignoraron esta información y lo mataron a pesar de eso.

Chicanos en el Este de la ciudad saben muy bien que la Estación del Sheriff del Este de Los Ángeles – hogar de la pandilla Banditos – es famosa por el comportamiento agresivo y violento de sus oficiales y por su larga historia de matar a jóvenes chicanos. Oficiales de la Estación del Este de Los Ángeles han matado en el pasado a personas sufriendo crisis de salud mental, en lugar de brindarles la ayuda que merecen.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO

Los Ángeles, CA – El 8 de marzo, más de 150 personas se reunieron en el Ayuntamiento de Boyle Heights para asistir a la novena celebración anual del Día Internacional de la Mujer organizada por Centro CSO. El evento de este año contó con puestos de comida y un panel de conversación con oradoras de las diferentes áreas de trabajo de Centro CSO, como inmigración, educación y brutalidad policial. La Dra. Rocío Rivas, miembro de la junta directiva del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles (LAUSD) que defiende a la segunda jurisdicción escolar más grande del país contra la privatización, fue la oradora principal del evento.

Jenny Bekenstein, miembro de la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad, explicó cómo el Día Internacional de la Mujer se desarrolló en paralelo a la lucha contra el capitalismo y la explotación de los trabajadores. Bekenstein, quien también es miembro del sindicato Teamsters en UPS, dijo, “¡El Día Internacional de la Mujer tiene una historia de mujeres que se enfrentaron a sus jefes, organizaron huelgas, salieron a las calles y lucharon contra la opresión!”

Centro CSO también destacó las demandas de derechos reproductivos para todas, el fin de la violencia de género, la liberación LGBTQ, igual salario por igual trabajo, la legalización para todos y el fin de los crímenes policiales.

Luego, el público escuchó a un panel de activistas que incluyó a Isabella Rivera, madre de Jeremy Flores, quien fue asesinado por la policía de LAPD en la división Hollenbeck en 2025; Antonieta García, copresidenta del comité de educación de CSO, quien organiza la lucha contra la expansión de las escuelas charter en el Este de Los Ángeles; Destiny Martínez, activista del sindicato Teamsters en UPS; y Verita Topete, activista por los derechos de los inmigrantes y copresidenta del Comité de Inmigración de CSO.

Las panelistas compartieron cómo comenzaron en el activismo y cómo es ser mujeres que luchan por causas como la educación pública, la justicia contra los crímenes policiales, los derechos de los inmigrantes y el trabajo dentro del movimiento laboral.

Verita Topete, cuyo padre estuvo detenido durante muchos años en el Centro de Detención de Adelanto, dijo, “Centro CSO organizó un hermoso evento por el Día Internacional de la Mujer que creó un espacio para pequeños negocios locales de mujeres chicanas y reunió a un poderoso panel de chicanas que realizan un trabajo importante en sus comunidades. Escuchamos a mujeres que se organizan por la rendición de cuentas policial, la educación, los derechos laborales y de los inmigrantes. Fue un honor compartir espacio con mujeres que están en la primera línea de estas luchas. El salón estaba lleno de mujeres que se fueron sintiéndose vistas, apoyadas y empoderadas”.

Cuando se le preguntó sobre el evento, Kate Regan, moderadora del panel, maestra de escuela pública y activista, dijo, “El Día Internacional de la Mujer no solo es motivo de celebración, sino también un importante llamado a la acción. Nuestro evento fue una hermosa muestra de agradecimiento por el trabajo que ya se ha realizado, y también una fuente de inspiración alegre para las mujeres y niñas que aún no han encontrado su voz única en la lucha. Nos empoderamos mutuamente al compartir nuestras historias de fuerza y resiliencia”.

La Dra. Rocío Rivas, miembro de la junta directiva del LAUSD y una fuerte aliada de Centro CSO cerró el evento reconociendo las contribuciones de las mujeres a la protección de la educación pública contra la privatización. Rivas se postula para la reelección este año y ha recibido el respaldo de Centro CSO debido a sus esfuerzos para detener el crecimiento de las escuelas charter.

Centro CSO invita a todas las personas que quieran luchar contra la agenda racista y reaccionaria de Trump a su reunión general mensual a las 6 p.m. en el Ayuntamiento de Boyle Heights.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #CentroCSO #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay

Los Ángeles, CA – El 12 de marzo, después de casi un mes de lucha por parte de la Organización de Servicio Comunitario del Centro (CSO Centro) los cargos falsos contra Sergio Flores fueron retirados. Después de la reunión general de CSO el 18 de febrero, Flores fue arrestado violentamente por la división Hollenbeck del LAPD, junto con dos otros miembros de CSO.

Sergio Flores es el hermano mayor de Jeremy Anthony Flores, quien fue asesinado por agentes de la división Hollenbeck de LAPD el 14 de julio de 2025. Jeremy estaba desarmado cuando fue abatido de disparos por LAPD. Su cuerpo fue dejado al sol caliente del verano durante horas, antes de que médicos legistas lo retiraran. Mas tarde, mintiendo sobre los hechos, LAPD ha justificado el asesinato sin sentido. La familia Flores y CSO Centro han exigido justicia para Jeremy Flores, organizando protestas y manifestaciones ante la estación de LAPD Hollenbeck.

La noche del 18 de febrero, LAPD identificó y golpeó a la familia de Jeremey Anthony Flores y múltiples miembros de CSO. Respondiendo con armas desenfundadas a una crisis de salud mental fuera del lugar de la reunión, LAPD no permitió a los miembros de CSO salir. Mientras los miembros preguntaban si podían ir en sus autos y volver a casa, LAPD los golpeó y apuñaló con bastones, dejando moretones muy grandes.

“El arresto de Sergio Flores el 18 de febrero fue absolutamente innecesario,” dijo Jocelyn Ortega, la esposa de Sergio Flores. “Las tácticas de agresión e intimidación que condujeron a violencia física y el arresto de Sergio fueron injustos y un abuso de poder.”

El arresto y los cargos presentados contra Sergio Flores fueron tácticas de intimidación utilizadas por el LAPD para aterrorizar a CSO e impedir que usaran sus voces para luchar por la justicia.

CSO se movilizó para liberar a los CSO 3. Protestaron muchas veces ante la estación de LAPD Hollenbeck para exigir la liberación de sus miembros y que se retiraran los cargos. Organizaron campañas de llamadas al fiscal del distrito y al fiscal municipal demandando que se retiraran los cargos. Cuando no fueron liberados, CSO dirigió el apoyo judicial a sus miembros. Sin dar marcha atrás ante la represión política, resistieron de manera pública y en voz alta.

El 12 de marzo, Sergio Flores tenía una cita programada en el tribunal. CSO pronto se enteró de que ni el fiscal del distrito ni el fiscal municipal iban a hacerse cargo del caso contra Sergio Flores, lo que significaba que el intento de LAPD de silenciar a CSO fracasó y que no tenían justificación para acusar a Flores. Los dos otros miembros de CSO tampoco tenían cargos y también están libres.

Jocelyn Ortega, la esposa de Flores que asistió a la audiencia, dijo, “El arresto y los cargos presentados contra Sergio Flores fueron una táctica de intimidación utilizada por LAPD para aterrorizar a los manifestantes pacíficos de CSO. Trataron de impedirnos usar nuestras voces y luchar por la justicia. Los cargos presentados contra Sergio fueron retirados debido a la exageración de la verdad, que mostró de manera clara que él no hizo nada malo.

Es importante notar que, aunque los CSO 3 están libres y sin cargo, las autoridades todavía podrían imponerles cargos en cualquier momento. Para unirse a CSO, envíales un mensaje en línea o asiste a sus reuniones públicas mensuales. Las reuniones generales son cada tercer miércoles del mes, a las 6 de la tarde, en el Ayuntamiento de Boyle Heights (la entrada de atrás).

¡Lucha y Resiste! entrevistó a Sergio Flores y esto es lo que tenía que decir.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Qué te enfurece más de lo que ocurrió el 18 de febrero?

Sergio Flores: Algo que me enfurece del 18 fue la manera en que fuimos atacados y asaltados por LAPD, desde los niños hasta los adultos.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cómo ha sido pasar por esta injusticia?

Flores: Soportar esta batalla es estresante, porque sabemos que el sistema siempre va apoyar a sus departamentos corrompidos. ¡Pero cuando luchamos, ganamos!

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cómo fue estar encarcelado por LAPD Hollenbeck?

Flores: Estar encarcelado por LAPD para mí no fue el fin del mundo porque siempre me enseñaron a defender a las personas que son atacadas como lo hicieron con nuestra gente, pero al mismo tiempo tienes que estar alerta todo el tiempo porque no sabes lo que están pensando, ponerte la mano encima o lo que sea.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Por qué piensas que no te presentaron cargos?

Flores: Pienso que no me presentaron cargos porque fueron cargos falsos desde el principio. ¡Saben que fueron ellos quienes empezaron con la violencia! Y mientras ellos usaron bastones, nosotros usamos nuestras palabras y voces.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Qué consejo les darías a otros en situaciones parecidas e injustas, como la tuya?

Flores: Mi consejo para los demás es no tener miedo de los puercos. Defiendan lo que creen. Abran los ojos al nivel de corrupción que hay en los departamentos de policía de Los Ángeles e involúcrense con una organización, porque estas son nuestras calles y vemos lo que pasa– ellos no nos protegen. Nosotros nos protegemos.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #CSO #CentroCSO #SergioFlores #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities

Los Angeles, CA – On Sunday, March 15, the People’s Care Collective (PCC), hosted an event on the steps of LA General Medical Center calling attention to the many violations of health and human rights that Los Angeles hospitals have enabled. ICE and local law enforcement have entered health care facilities trampling on the rights of immigrants and their families.

Members of Centro CSO, Union del Barrio, Justice LA Coalition, California Immigrant Policy Center, and People’s Care Collective all spoke truth at the steps of power to demand that LA hospitals must stop prioritizing the interests of police, ICE, and insurance companies over protecting patients who seek care, regardless of their immigration status.

In October of 2025, whistleblowers exposed that that ICE agents were allegedly terrorizing detainee patients at White Memorial, a Boyle Heights Adventist hospital, by violating their right to privacy and HIPAA laws, denying them the ability to make their own medical care decisions, and interfering with hospital staff who tried to connect detainees with their families.

In response, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) in consultation with the county counsel to develop and implement consistent guidelines governing “blackout” and law enforcement contact policies with clear provisions regarding their applicability to patients detained by federal immigration authorities.

Unfortunately, that policy was developed without any input from frontline health workers or community members and remains “under review” despite DHS’s goal of full implementation by the end of February 2026.

PCC and supporting organizations are demanding LA County hospital administrators adopt the Model Policy for Immigration Enforcement in the Healthcare Settings developed by the Physician Working Group on Patient Safety in collaboration with the ACLU of Southern California, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Immigrant Defenders Law Center, and SEIU UHW, which enshrines patients’ legal rights to privacy, to legal counsel, and to family visitation.

“We are here today because all of these systems – immigration detention, mass incarceration, and genocide – are part of the same machinery that treats certain lives as disposable. And too often, the medical industrial complex is complicit in that harm, “ said M, a Los Angeles medical student and organizer with the People’s Care Collective. “Hospitals should be places of care and healing, but until our institutions refuse to collaborate with the systems that cage and kill people, they remain part of the same structure of violence we are here to break down today. We say that enough is enough.”

“Protect your patients. Stand with the community you serve. Healthcare should never be at the risk of detention, isolation or deportation,” said Centro CSO’s Verita Topete, “Today we also seek justice for Ruben Ray Martinez, who was killed by ICE in Texas on March 15, 2024. His life mattered and his family deserves answers. His death is part of a larger crisis. This year alone, eleven people have died in ICE. custody. Eleven people that should still be with their families and communities.”

By shedding light on the injustice and crimes committed by ICE and local law enforcement inside the halls of healing spaces, PCC and supporting organizations are helping to further unite the community against the harm being done to it at the hands of government.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #ICE

East Los Angeles, CA – On March 14, the family of David Ordaz Jr. held a protest and a vigil to commemorate the five-year anniversary since David was executed by four East LA Sheriff's deputies during a mental health crisis.

Gathered at Belvedere Lake Park, David’s family, Centro CSO, along with allies and other impacted families, rallied, then marched to the East LA Sheriff’s Station, before running to Belvedere Lake to hold a vigil for David with a table for candles and pictures to honor his life and demand justice.

On March 14, 2021, the family of David Ordaz, Jr. called 911 to get him help as he was under mental distress and talking about suicide. ELA Sheriff’s deputies – including Remin Pineda, Edwin Navarrete, Jaime Romero and Nathaniel Trujillo – arrived at the scene outside of the Ordaz family home in East Los Angeles.

The ELA sheriff’s station, the home of the Banditos sheriff gang, is known for its aggressive behavior and long history of killing Chicano men. Although they were aware of Ordaz Jr.’s mental state, the deputies gunned him down as his family watched in shock. While the department says that Ordaz Jr. charged at the deputies with a knife, footage recorded by a neighbor shows that he did not pose a threat.

Jazmine Moreno, mother of David Ordaz’s three children, stated, “When the sheriffs responded to the call they immediately drew their guns,” said Moreno, recalling what happened the day David was killed. “With no regard for his life or any of the rest of our family who are standing next to him, these cowardly deputies began shooting rubber bullets and within a second fired live rounds.”

In 2022, former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon charged Pineda with two felonies: assault with a firearm and assault under color of authority. However, Pineda walked free without serving any prison time for Ordaz’s murder. It turned out Mark Arnold, a biased judge who was a former sheriff deputy himself, with a son currently in law enforcement, merely sentenced Pineda to two years’ probation. The judge claimed Pineda “didn’t go out with the intent to kill.” The facts are clear: David was shot already bleeding and lying on the ground. Pineda walked up and fired the final fatal bullet at close range. That was an execution. T

he Ordaz family presented demands throughout the event that included, “DA Hochman or Attorney General Rob Bonta: Reopen the investigation into Deputy Nathaniel Trujillo and Jamie Romero,” and “California Attorney General Rob Bonta: Conduct an investigation into the trial of Remin Pineda for bias. Judge Mark S. Arnold is a former LASD deputy and his son is currently with the Department.”

Stephanie Luna, aunt of 21-year-old Anthony Daniel Vargas who was killed by the East LA Sheriffs in 2018, shared words and condolences on behalf of the Check the Sheriff’s coalition. “We are not only gathered here in the memory of David Ordaz but for the pursuit of justice that his life demanded,” Luna said. Citing Judge Mark Arnold’s background, she continued, “Justice cannot exist when there is a conflict of interest, justice cannot exist where bias is ignored.”

At the kick-off rally, Luis Sifuentes of Centro CSO and Carlos Montes of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization spoke about how David’s killing is an example of the national oppression that Chicanos experience within the Southwest.

Ali Rubinfeld with the Loyola Anti-Racism Center and the Check the Sheriff’s coalition, said, “It is wrong that when the police kill, the criminal legal system seeks out reason to justify their behavior and allows them to act with impunity.” Rubinfield demanded, “We need impartial and independent review of police violence and misconduct that can yield real accountability and justice for impacted families.”

After the speeches, the crowd marched to the East LA Sheriff station chanting, “Jail killer cops,” “Justice for David Ordaz Jr!” “Sin justicia no hay paz!” In anticipation for the crowd, the station set up yellow police lines taped across the perimeter and three squad cars parked with six deputies. Confrontation ensued between the crowd and cops reminding them that justice is still wanting.

The crowd eventually regrouped at the rally point to start the vigil and hear from the families of Jeremy Flores (killed by LAPD in 2025) and David Sullivan (killed by Buena Park PD in 2019), who spoke in solidarity with the Ordaz family.

Five years since that tragic day, the family of David Ordaz Jr have not only fought for justice in his case but also became leading fighters in the struggle against LASD and LAPD terror. His family has led multiple protests outside of the ELA Sheriff’s station, attended with Centro CSO the Second National Conference of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and helped organize the victory of Measure A to bring greater accountability to LASD.

#EastLosAngelesCA #LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA — On March 12, after nearly a month of struggle by Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) the bogus charges on Sergio Flores were dropped. After CSO’s general meeting on February 18, Flores was violently arrested by LAPD Hollenbeck along with two other CSO members.

Sergio Flores is the older brother of Jeremy Anthony Flores, who was killed by LAPD Hollenbeck Division cops on July 14, 2025. Jeremey Flores was unarmed when he was gunned down by LAPD. His body was left out in the hot summer sun for hours, before coroners removed it. Later lying about the facts, LAPD has justified the senseless killing. The Flores family and Centro CSO have demanded justice for Jeremy Flores, leading rallies and protests at the LAPD Hollenbeck station.

On the night of February 18, the LAPD targeted and beat the family of Jeremy Anthony Flores and multiple CSO members. Responding with guns drawn to a mental health crisis outside of the meeting place, LAPD did not allow CSO members to leave. As members asked if they could get to their cars and go home, LAPD hit and jabbed them with batons, leaving very large bruises.

“The arrest of Sergio Flores on February 18 was absolutely unnecessary,” said Jocelyn Ortega, the wife of Sergio Flores. “The aggression and intimidation tactics which led to physical violence and the arrest made to Sergio, were unjust and an abuse of power.”

The arrest and charges brought upon Sergio Flores were intimidation tactics used by LAPD to scare CSO to stop them from using their voices to fight for justice.

CSO mobilized to free the CSO 3. They protested many times at the LAPD Hollenbeck Station to demand the release of their members and for the charges to be dropped. They organized call-ins to the district attorney and the city attorney demanding that they drop the charges. When they weren’t released, CSO led court support of their members. Not backing down in the face of political repression, they publicly and loudly fought back.

On March 12, Sergio Flores had a scheduled court date. CSO quickly learned that neither the district attorney nor city attorney were picking up the case against Sergio Flores, meaning LAPD’s attempt to silence CSO had failed and they had no justification to charge Flores. The other two CSO members similarly had no charges either and are also free.

Jocelyn Ortega, the wife of Flores who attended the court appearance, said, “The arrest and charges brought upon Sergio Flores was the intimidation tactic used by LAPD to scare the peaceful protesters from Centro. They tried to stop us from using our voices and from fighting for justice. The charges presented against Sergio were dropped due to the over exaggeration of the truth, which clearly showed he did no wrong.”

It is important to note that, while CSO 3 are free and uncharged, the authorities could still charge them at any point. To join CSO, send them a message online or attend their monthly, public meetings. General meetings are every third Wednesday of the month, 6 p.m. at Boyle Heights City Hall (back entrance).

Fight Back! interviewed Sergio Flores and this is what he had to say.

Fight Back!: What angers you about what happened on February 18?

Sergio Flores: Something that angers me about the 18th was the way we were attacked and assaulted by LAPD, from kids to adults.

Fight Back! What has it been like to go through this injustice?

Flores: To go through this battle is stressful, because we know the system will always back up its corrupt departments. But when we fight, we win!

Fight Back! What was it like being jailed by LAPD Hollenbeck?

Flores: Being jailed by LAPD for me wasn’t the end of the world because I was always taught to stand up for people being attacked like they did to our people, but at the same time you gotta be alert at all times because you don’t know what they’re thinking, to put hands on you or whatever the case may be.

Fight Back! Why do you think no charges were filed on you?

Flores: I think no charges were filed on me because they were bogus charges to begin with. They know they started with violence! And while they used batons, we used our words and voices.

Fight Back! What is your advice for others in similar and unjust situations, such as yours?

Flores: My advice for others is to not be afraid of the pigs. Stand up for what you believe in. Open your eyes to how much corruption there is in the Los Angeles police departments and to get involved with an organization, because these are our streets and we see what goes on – they don’t protect us We protect us.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO