Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

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By staff

Movement builds to drop remaining 4 charges

Los Angeles, CA – In the first significant victory in the case of veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes, Superior Court Judge George Lomeli handed down a ruling March 27, dismissing two of the six felony charges that are pending against Montes. Thanking supporters outside the courtroom, Montes said, “The success we have had here today is due to your efforts and to those of my attorney, Jorge Gonzalez. Two charges down, we need to get the other four dropped.”

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By staff

Los Angeles, CA – Veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes will be back in court March 27. The LA Committee to Stop FBI Repression urges activists to join them at the Superior Courts Building to picket and pack the court hearing. They will raise the demand, “Drop the charges against Carlos Montes.”

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By Charla Schlueter

Carlos Montes speaking to supporters before his court appearance.

Los Angeles CA — Early on the morning of March 2, supporters of veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes gathered outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. After holding a brief rally outside to demand that the trumped-up charges against Montes be dropped, the crowd joined him inside the courtroom in a show of solidarity.

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By staff

Protestors in front of LA courthouse demand "drop the charges against Carlos"

Los Angeles, CA – Veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes was back in court here, Feb. 8, winning a small legal victory. Superior Court Judge Lomeli agreed to review records on the sheriff’s deputy who transported Montes the East Los Angeles jail after the FBI-orchestrated raid on his home last year. The judge will review the files and turn over to Montes’ attorney any relevant documents.

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By Brad Sigal

Carlos Montes habla afuera de la corte

El 24 de enero, el líder chicano Carlos Montes estuvo en la corte de Los Ángeles, California con audiencia ante el juez George Lomeli; el abogado de Montes, Jorge González, pidió al juez que eliminara los cargos contra Montes debido a la falta de evidencia, después de escuchar los argumentos del fiscal y de la defensa, el juez rechazó la apelación de falta de evidencia presentada por el abogado de Montes, eso significa que el caso contra Montes aún continúa; La próxima audiencia ante el juez será el 8 de febrero.

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By staff

_Outrageous court decision – trial looms ahead _

Carlos Montes (on right) before Jan. 24 court appearance.

Los Angeles, CA – “In the interests of justice this case should be dismissed,” said attorney Jorge Gonzales, lawyer for veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes, in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jan. 24. Minutes later, though, Judge Lomeli sided with the prosecution, refusing to dismiss the six trumped up felony charges against Montes, on the grounds of insufficient evidence, setting the stage for a trial later this year. The court room was filled with supporters of Montes who wanted to see the charges dropped.

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By staff

LA protest against Sheriff Baca

Los Angeles, CA – Demanding “Stop SCOMM” and “No deportations,” members of the Southern California Immigration Coalition denounced Sheriff L. Baca at his annual prayer breakfast here, Jan 14.

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By Carlos Montes

Protest against Sheriff Baca Dec. 18

Los Angeles, CA – Sheriff Lee Baca was met by an angry protest, Dec. 18, as he arrived to speak at Village Church in West Lost Angeles. When he arrived, his car quickly sped off and he tried to get into the church via the back driveway. But young protesters ran and confronted him chanting, “Baca estamos en la lucha, alto a la Poli/Migra, alto a las deportaciones!”

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By Carlos Montes

Alvarado Street vendors protest police harassment.

Los Angeles, CA – Vendors protested a new police crackdown on street vendors on Alvarado and 6th Streets, Dec. 16. The vendors gathered in front of Metro Station on Alvarado Street. Carrying posters and chanting, they marched to the Los Angeles Police Department Ramparts Division, amid cheers from onlookers.

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By staff

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Los Angeles Committee to Stop FBI Repression on the mass arrests and jailing of Occupy LA protesters.

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By staff

Cop approaching Occupy LA encampment.

Los Angeles, CA – More than 1000 police raided the Occupy LA encampment here, Nov. 30, at about 12:30 a.m. The massive camp, comprised of more than 400 tents, was constructed on the grounds surrounding L.A. City Hall. The Los Angeles Police Department raid came at the camp from all sides, with some cops emerging from within the city hall.

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By staff

Occupy LA encampment

Los Angeles, CA – Mayor Villaraigosa set a 12:01 a.m. Monday deadline for occupiers to end the massive 400 tent encampment that is surrounding City Hall. Participants in the occupation vow to remain and more have joined the occupation, this evening, Nov. 27.

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By staff

Tents at Angela Davis (formerly Wilson) Plaza, Occupy UCLA.

Los Angeles, CA – “Evict us, we multiply, occupy will never die!” Despite crackdowns against encampments around the country, a large group of students, activists, and union members launched “Occupy UCLA” on Thursday, after a noon rally of several hundred students and workers against budget cuts and fee hikes.

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By Charla Schlueter

Activists rally outside the courthouse in support of Carlos Montes.

Los Angeles, CA – Activists gathered outside the Los Angeles courthouse Monday morning, chanting “FBI don’t scare me, we’ve got solidarity,” as they rallied in support of veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes. Over 40 supporters packed the courtroom as Montes’ case began the ‘discovery’ phase. “We are demanding the communications, documents, and information that shows the collaboration of the FBI and LA County Sheriffs,” said Montes outside the hearing.

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By staff

_Protest demands “Drop the charges now” at LA courthouse _

Carlos Montes speaking to supporters outside the LA Superior Court building.

Los Angeles, CA – Chanting, “Drop the charges now,” more than 60 supporters of veteran Chicano leader, Carlos Montes, rallied outside the LA Courthouse here, September 29, for a protest that coincided with a preliminary hearing, where the government outlined their case against him.

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By staff

LA protest at Obama visit, September 26.

Los Angeles, CA – On Sept. 26, President Obama visited Los Angeles to dip into the pockets of the Hollywood elite for his re-election campaign. His first stop was the famous House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard, where over 100 anti-war activists lined the sidewalks to demand Obama end the wars in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, “Money for jobs and education! Not for war and occupation!” the crowd chanted. “We are sick of mounting tuition, rising unemployment and most of all the ever-increasing war deficit of this country,” said a student activist from Pasadena Community College.

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By Editorial ¡Lucha y Resiste!

Carlos Montes en conferencia de prensa despues de la redada en su casa

Los Angeles, CA – Más de 60 personas asistieron a una protesta aquí cerca del Edificio de la Corte Criminal el 12 de agosto para exigir el fín de los cargos contra el lider chicano y activista anti-guerra Carlos Montes. Montes ya se había presentado en la Corte de Alhambra, California el 6 de julio, donde él se declaró innocente de las 6 felonías relacionadas a las leyes de armas de California.

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By staff

Los Angeles, CA – More than 60 people joined a spirited picket line here at the Criminal Courts Building, Aug. 12, to demand all charges against veteran Chicano leader and anti-war activist Carlos Montes be dropped. Montes previously appeared in Alhambra Court July 6, where he declared himself not guilty of six felonies relating to California’s firearm laws.

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By Committee to Stop FBI Repression

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

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By staff

Protest in solidarity with Carlos Montes

Los Angeles, CA – Supporters of veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes gathered on July 6 at the Alhambra courthouse in East Los Angeles. Montes appeared in court to enter a plea of not guilty to six felony charges that were filed after a SWAT team and FBI agents raided his home on May 17. More than 60 people came out to picket and rally in his defense at the court and packed the courtroom during the hearing.

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