Los Angeles, CA – In the span of 12 days during the summer of 2016, LAPD Officer Eden Medina killed two unarmed Chicanos in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights. On July 28, 2016, Medina shot Omar Gonzalez twice in the back after multiple officers had tackled the 36-year-old father of two and held him face down. The LAPD immediately allowed Medina and his partner Alejandro Higareda to continue working in Boyle Heights. Then, on August 9, Medina shot 14-year-old Jesse Romero as he was surrendering with his hands in the air and starting to kneel. In both cases, District Attorney Jackie Lacey cleared Medina and the families lost their civil suits against the City of Los Angeles. LAPD merely transferred Medina to a different division.

On Sunday, August 9, the four-year anniversary of Romero’s death, the families of Jesse Romero and Omar Gonzalez along with Centro CSO held a vigil at the site where Eden Medina murdered Romero. Romero’s father and Gonzalez’s sons spoke about the pain that Medina, the LAPD, and DA Jackie Lacey have caused and the need to keep fighting for justice. Seven other families who have lost loved ones to police in different parts of Los Angeles and Southern California came out in solidarity. Attendees blocked off Breed Street off Chavez Avenue to show that Los Angeles belongs to the people, not the police who terrorize them.

German, Jesse Romero’s father, opened the vigil by giving a speech in Spanish about his son’s murder and how protesters must unify. Almost every Wednesday he attends the Black Lives Matter-LA protest outside of the Hall of Justice to demand that DA Jackie Lacey resign. Pointing to a poster of Eden Medina, German said, “They think because they have badges, they have the right to kill. But, no, nobody has the right to kill anybody. We have to stay united, protest and demand justice for all. It’s not a game. If we don’t protest, if we don’t come together, they’re going to treat us like garbage.”

Next, Omar Gonzalez’s sons spoke, thanking those in attendance for their support. “We have been going through this for four years and we are still yet to get justice for our dad, Jesse Romero, and all the other victims of police brutality,” said Miguel Gonzalez. “We had to grow up with a big part of us taken away from us.”

Following these words from Jesse Romero’s and Omar Gonzalez’s families, relatives of other victims of police brutality – Alex Flores, Anthony Vargas, César Rodríguez, Christopher Alexander Okamoto, Daniel Hernández, David Sullivan and Paul Rea – took turns on the megaphone. The families described how police had killed their sons, brothers, fathers and nephews and also informed attendees of upcoming actions and memorials.

Sol Marquez of Centro CSO concluded the vigil with an update on how the city council of Minneapolis has, predictably, backtracked on plans to abolish the Minneapolis Police Department. She called for community control of the police, so that the people have the power to decide the future of police departments.

Centro CSO continues to organize with families in Boyle Heights and East LA who were victims of police brutality and to fight against the privatization of education.

Visit and contact CSO at the following 323-943-2030, Centrocso@gmail.com, or @CentroCSO on social media.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #JesseRomero #OmarGonzalez

Los Angeles, CA – In an outrageous decision, the jury sided with two-time killer and Los Angeles Police Department officer Eden Medina. The civil rights violations trial on 14-year-old Jesse Romero's killing started November 13 and lasted only six days. Early in the preceding, a judge ruled to exclude key evidence from the proceedings.

Killed on August 9, 2016 Jesse Romero was visiting his friends at the apartment complex in Boyle Heights. Someone inside of the apartment complex called 911 saying Romero and another teen were potentially smoking marijuana and graffitiing. LAPD officers Eden Medina and backup partner Alejandro Higareda bought the call and snuck up on Romero.

“No, I didn’t see him committing a crime when we got there,” said Officer Medina during the trial. But that didn’t stop him from killing Romero.

In 2016, news of multiple killings by LAPD in Boyle Heights were on the rise. These killings included the murder of young Chicano Omar Gonzalez – who Medina had also killed just 12 days before Romero’s killing. Knowing the historic role cops have played in killing Chicanos, Latinos, and Blacks, Romero ran for his life. The pursuit ended with what an eyewitness and Boyle Heights resident verified as a cold-blooded killing.

The trial

Fighting back tears, Norma Gonzalez, an eyewitness to the killing, said, “It was a complete surrender by the kid, with his hands up in the air. They shot him twice and I was yelling, ‘Why did you kill him!’ They didn't have to kill him.”

The jury didn't seem to care about this witness’ statement, even though she was the only witness to take the stand who saw the actual shooting.

Represented by his cop union, LAPD officer Eden Medina was equipped with an all-white legal team. Jesse Romero's family was represented by Chicano Attorney Humberto Guizar and a great, mostly oppressed nationality legal team.

Lawyers representing LAPD officer Eden Medina presented the case as the necessary killing of a typical gangster, looking to ambush two cops. “He refused to follow commands. Even using profanity didn't stop him,” said a Medina attorney.

They did everything possible to make the jury lose sympathy for Romero, even arguing that 14-year old Romero had the build of an adult male. LAPD officers Medina and Higareda are both larger in build, height, and were much older than Romero. Boyle Heights has a 35% obesity rate due to poverty and inadequate access to recreational sites. However, Medina’s deposition acknowledged that he knew Romero was between the ages of 13-16.

LAPD expert witness Ed Flosi testified that when using deadly force, a cop must have, “Reverence for life, all life.” A stealth nod to the “All Lives Matter” phrase used by racists.

Medina’s lawyers used a disgusting baseball analogy for R omero’s killing and trial. Saying, “Let's think of it like you're at a baseball game. And you're mad at the umpire because of the call he made. Now suppose the umpire dies and now you as the jurors become the umpires. You now must be fair and make the calls. The people sitting here supporting Romero's family are like the fans supporting their favorite team.”

After closing statements, Medina’s attorneys argued to Judge Dolly Gee that Romero’s parents were inadequate parents and should not be awarded a cent by the city of Los Angeles. Judge Gee denied the request.

After only a few hours, the jury returned to announce they were unanimous in deciding against Romero’s family. U.S. Marshalls were called to secure the courtroom upon the reading of the verdict.

Present throughout the trial were other mothers who had also lost their children at the hands of police or sheriffs. Taking every moment of the trial personally, including the decision, these mothers gave Romero’s parents utmost support.

Upon exiting the final day of the verdict, a group of Romero supporters chanted, “Say his name! Jesse Romero!” to which no security guard at the federal courthouse dared challenge.

Next steps

Centro CSO, with allies like Black Lives Matter, held daily protests outside the U.S. courthouse before entering to observe the trial.

Humberto Guizar, the Romero family attorney, will file an appeal asking for a new trial. The basis for the appeal is the court did not allow the entering of evidence on the prior killing of Omar Gonzalez by Eden Medina 12 days earlier.

Centro CSO and other families will continue to demand justice by demanding District Attorney Jackie Lacey prosecute killer cops and by continuing the struggle, protesting in the streets and in the courts.

During closing statements Attorney Guizar surmised, “When a dead boy is not here to speak, we rely on the living and what they witnessed. The law is good but only to these killers because it gives the LAPD the privilege to defend themselves when killing our kids.”

Sol Márquez is a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Centro CSO, and a fighter for Chicano liberation.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #JesseRomero #EdenMedina

Los Angeles, CA – The civil trial by Jesse Romero's parents against LAPD officer Eden Medina and the City of Los Angeles started at the U.S. Courthouse on November 13. After five days of dramatic testimony and police video recordings, as of mid-day November 19, the jury has reported they are not agreeing yet on a decision. It appears the jury is split and the judge has asked them to continue deliberating.

Jesse Romero was 14 years old when LAPD officer Eden Medina shot and killed him. This happened on August 9, 2016, at a very busy intersection in Boyle Heights. Testimony during the trial included an eye-witness who saw Romero surrendering with his hands up, as Officer Medina shot him twice. Officer Medina killed two young Chicanos within two weeks, Romero being his second victim.

The eight-member jury began deliberations into Friday evening, and returned today, Monday, November 19. Around 11:30 this morning, the jury stated they were not unanimous on a decision. As of now the jury has returned to deliberations in the hopes that a unanimous decision is made. If there is not a unanimous decision, a mistrial or hung jury may occur.

Sol Márquez is a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Centro CSO, and a fighter for Chicano liberation.

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #LAPD #Antiracism #JesseRomero

Los Angeles, CA – Two years after the LAPD killing of 14-year-old student Jesse Romero, the Boyle Heights community united to demand “Justice for Jesse.” About 50 people gathered at the intersection of Breed Street and César E. Chávez Boulevard, the site where Romero was killed, to hold a vigil and protest. Throughout the day, a national call-in day was held to demand L.A. District Attorney Jackie Lacey jail and prosecute killer cops.

On August 9, 2016, during rush hour, LAPD officer Eden Medina and another cop chased Jesse Romero from an apartment complex after an alleged graffiti tip. Medina chased Romero through César E. Chávez Boulevard for less than a block and, upon nearing the corner of Breed Street, shot him. Cars and pedestrians breezed by since it was the middle of rush hour.

Three witnesses say that Jesse was shot and killed while unarmed. Body cam footage was recently obtained by the Romero’s lawyer, Humber Guizar, in which Medina is observed beating his chest out of pride that he killed another person. Only 12 days earlier, Medina had shot and killed another Chicano young man named Omar Gonzalez. The footage from Romero’s killing showed that no first aid was ever administered or even called upon; and LAPD officers forcefully flipped Romero’s lifeless body onto the cement face down, and then handcuffed him.

The vigil was organized by Centro CSO (Community Service Organization), which has led the fight against the nine LAPD killings in Boyle Heights since 2016. Centro CSO has united families and community to demand jail for killer cops. Among those gathered were Jesse’s parents Teresa Dominguez, Jose Romero, their lawyer Humberto Guizar, Black Lives Matter-L.A., Latino Equality Alliance, March & Rally Los Angeles, Catholic Worker, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Also joining the event were other families who lost loved ones to killer cops and sheriffs, including the families of Jose Mendez, Edwin Rodriguez, Eric River, Johnny Anderson, Cesar Rodriguez and Christian Escobedo.

During the event lawyer Huizar said, “I grew up in the streets. I too was a gang member and I was shot. Let me tell you that it’s extremely painful to be shot. Listening to testimonies today from other parents who have also lost their children in similar ways as Jesse, and hearing that Edwin Rodriguez was shot 19 times is shameful. 19! If that isn’t a massacre, I don’t know what else to call it.”

Chants led by Centro CSO member Emily Hubbard included, “What do we want? Justice! For who? Jesse Romero! When do we want it? Now!” and “Say his name! Jesse Romero!”

Speaking on behalf of Freedom Road Socialist Organization Sol Marquez said, “These police killings are not isolated cases. We should regard them as extensions of national oppression against Chicanos and our Black sisters and brothers. We must unite in denouncing these killings, demand jailing of killer cops, but also freedom against this oppression. We need a revolution and it won’t happen unless we’re tired of being treated this way.”

A pre-trial hearing rally will be organized by Centro CSO around October. Organizers ask that you stay connected with them through centrocso@gmail.com or by calling or texting 323-943-2030.

#LosAngelesCA #CentroCSO #JesseRomero

Los Angeles, CA – A press conference was held in Boyle Heights, May 29, to release the body camera footage from two LAPD officers involved in the killing of 14-year-old Jesse Romero, a student at Mendez High School. The killing occurred on August 9, 2016. Romero’s parents, Teresa Dominguez and Jesus Romero, their lawyer Humberto Guizar, members of Centro CSO, Romero’s high school classmates, teachers and other families of loved ones killed by police were also present.

“We are releasing the videos because the city hasn’t done a thing about this,” said lawyer Humberto Guizar. “LAPD, after they killed Jesse, said he was a 25-year-old man. He was clearly underage, and they knew it. But to say the killing was nothing but a thug with a gun, the initial coverage would immediately dismiss any sympathy from the public. Even after the media corrected the original messaging, the damage had been done. Well it’s time people knew that Jesse’s killer LAPD officer Eden Medina gave Jesse no chance to live. In addition Medina had killed Omar Gonzalez only 12 days before killing Jesse. The two killings are eerily similar.”

Officer Eden Medina is known as “The Terminator” in the community of Boyle Heights due to his history of harassing, brutality, false arrests and record of killing young Chicano men.

The footage is short, but quickly shows the situation escalate. The killing occurred in broad daylight, sent the two LAPD officers and Jesse Romero running from an apartment building, to the busy street of Chavez Boulevard. It shows officer Eden Medina, gun already drawn, chase Romero, slow around a corner, shoot multiple times, and then advance at Romero while ordering him to, “Stop moving, get down! Get down,” a typical tactic to portray the victim as not cooperating.

Contradicting initial reports that Medina feared for his life, the videos clearly show Medina confident as he killed Romero. Medina gives chase to Romero, stops to peek around a corner and fires multiple shots, then yells at the already dying 14-year-old to “Get down, stop moving.” Romero is bleeding to death, on his back. The officers’ cameras show his legs shaking while clinging to life. No medical aid is administered, no calls for an ambulance are made. A gun is seen across a tall metal fence about 15 feet away and far from Romero’s reach. A witness approaches waving to show that Jesse was unarmed and had earlier thrown an old rusty gun over a tall metal fence. Romero bled to death in front of the unfazed officers who asked the unharmed Medina, “Are you okay?” Medina then pounds his chest with his fist as if to congratulate himself like a sports player and replies, “Yeah.” The footage also shows officers slam, face-down, Romero’s lifeless body on the cement sidewalk as they handcuff him.

“Why handcuff him and slam his poor, dead body?” asked Guizar. “He’s already dead!”

Romero’s mother, overcome with rage and emotion, was unable to say much more than, “I want justice for my son.”

Carlos Montes, a member of Centro CSO said, “CSO has been fighting to win justice for Jesse since we contacted the family about this unjustified and terrible killing. We will continue fighting united with the family to win the justice that Jesse deserves.” Centro CSO will fight to fire and prosecute killer cop Eden Medina.

Plans are to continue pressuring LAPD to fire and jail killer cop Eden Medina, and to release the video footage from the killing of Omar Gonzalez. Medina is a trigger-happy killer, on the prowl to kill more Chicano and Black youth. As Medina is still on the job, the group is releasing his image in the hopes that the public will remember who he is. If anyone has had an encounter with Medina, you are urged to contact Centro CSO.

The family has filed a lawsuit in federal court, and will continue to expose the lies and hypocrisy of the LAPD – lies that include the false version of Deputy Chief Arcos, who spoke at the LAPD official press conference defending the Medina killing of Jesse Romero. Arcos wants to now be chief of LAPD and is one of three who may be appointed after Chief Charlie Beck retires. Centro CSO will continue to say, “No to LAPD lies and cover-ups, and no to Arcos as chief of LAPD.”

Centro CSO will be updating the public on the continued efforts. Join CSO meetings every 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. at Benjamin Franklin Library. If you wish to follow the case, stay connected here: twitter.com/CentroCSO facebook.com/CentroCSO call CSO at 323-943-2030 or email CentroCSO@gmail.com

#LosAngelesCA #LosAngelesCACA #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #policeKillings #JesseRomero

Los Angeles, CA – Eight months after the LAPD killing of Jose “Peruzzi” Mendez – the 16-year-old killed by LAPD, and four other police killings of young Chicanos in Boyle Heights, an Oct. 6 call-in day action was organized by Centro CSO.

“It felt good to call DA Jackie Lacey’s office today,” says Juan Mendez father of Jose “Peruzzi” Mendez. “The secretary answered in Spanish, so I was able to fully communicate that I was not only calling to demand justice for all families’ victi