Los Angeles, CA – On March 31, 1995, 23-year-old Chicana icon Selena Quintanilla was murdered by her employee Yolanda Saldivar. 25 years later, on December 4, 2020, Selena: The Series premiered on Netflix. Selena is indisputably one of the most important and influential Chicanas in the past 100 years. Executive producer for the series was eldest Quintanilla daughter Suzette; it was co-produced by Chicana Christian Serratos, who stars as Selena in the series.

Los Angeles, CA – December 5 will mark a year since the murder of UPS driver Frank Ordonez. Last year, Ordonez, while delivering on route, was kidnapped by jewel thieves and held hostage in the delivery vehicle. The truck was pursued by police for hours. The pursuit came to a slowdown at a busy intersection, where police opened fire on the vehicle. The police fired over 200 rounds, killing Ordonez, the thieves and a bystander. The bystander, Rick Cutshaw, was a business rep for OPEIU Local 100. A year later, no one has been charged for the murders, and the officers still remain on active duty. And none of the police or police departments have been held accountable for their actions. The entire murder was captured on live television via helicopter.

Los Angeles, CA – Boyle Heights joined the call from the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) for protests on November 4 to demand a people’s mandate and that Trump concede. Hosted by Centro CSO at Mariachi Plaza, the rally featured many family and friends of Chicanos and Chicanas killed by police in Los Angeles. Protesters celebrated the electoral defeat of District Attorney Jackie Lacey, a crucial victory for the movement against police crimes in Los Angeles. Lacey has notoriously refused to file charges on over 600 cops for killing Blacks, Chicanos and Latinos in LA County during her two terms in office.

Los Angeles, CA – More than 3 million voted by mail and in person on November 3 in Los Angeles. District Attorney Jackie Lacey was defeated in a hard-fought race for district attorney of Los Angeles County, the most populous in the United States. Reform candidate George Gascon beat Lacey.

Los Angeles, CA – A protest rally and get out the vote grassroots effort was done on October 25 in the East LA barrio of El Sereno by Centro CSO and Black Lives Matter-LA. Over 45 volunteers and families who have been victims of police killings participated call on all to vote November 3 to oust Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey and President Trump.

Los Angeles, CA – Family, neighbors, supporters and Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) attended an October 16 press conference, rally and celebration of the life of Eric Briceno, who was killed by East LA Sheriffs in Maywood, California. Other families who have lost loved ones to police killings also joined the Briceno family. Well-known civil rights attorney Samuel Paz had asked Centro CSO to help the Briceno family.

Los Angeles, CA – August 29, 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium against war, racism and police brutality. Here is a short video of highlights of the march and rally. The chant of “Chicano power! Chicana power!” rang out in East Los Angeles.

The 50th Chicano Moratorium Organizing Committee, along with Centro Community Service Organization (CSO), CSO Youth, La Raza Unida Party, La Meza Nacional de Brown Berets and Autonomous Brown Berets organized a march August 29 to commemorate the Chicano Moratorium of 1970.

Los Angeles, CA – Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles called for justice for Dijon Kizzee at their weekly “DA Jackie Lacey Must Go” protest, September 2. Many families, victims of LAPD and LA sheriff killings and brutality, as well as organizations like Centro CSO, gathered outside of the offices of Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

Los Angeles, CA – Spontaneous protests continued throughout September 1 after the killing of 29-year-old bicyclist Dijon Kizzee, who was shot by sheriffs of South LA Station who claimed there was an unspecified vehicle code violation. One group occupied the 110 North Freeway and others protested at the site where he was killed.