Detroit, MI – On June 8, around 80 Detroiters and several community organizations protested Trump’s deployment of the National Guard on the Los Angeles community. Outside of the downtown ICE and Police Department Headquarters, Detroit stood in solidarity with those fighting back against ICE and the National Guard in LA.

Those in attendance held up signs demanding Detroit become a real sanctuary city that in no way works with ICE, with phrases like “Ni una mas deportación” and “End Trump’s attacks on immigrants.” The protesters took parallel corners of Michigan Avenue. One side of the street chanted “Fuck” while the other responded with “ICE,” with both sides of the street flipping off the headquarters that stood behind them.

Afterwards, the protesters gathered together, and Jacob Smith of DAARPR spoke on the importance of taking action like this. He championed the efforts of the community involved in the “everyday struggle,” and gave people opportunities to engage in the struggle beyond the action on June 8.

After Smith, Jo Pico, a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said, “We are in awe to see Chicago, Minneapolis and LA and elsewhere bravely run ICE out of their communities.” He recognized that Aztlán is on fire and we must fan the flames, promising that Detroit is going to fight back just as the Chicano community of Los Angeles has. Pico encouraged everyone to make the United States ungovernable under Trump.

Finally, Kassandra Rodriguez of DCAC emphasized that the fight to kick ICE out of Detroit is one that will require everyone to show up for their community, whether it is in Southwest or Hamtramck. She commended those who showed up, reminding everyone that “we keep each other safe with our numbers,” and by “putting our bodies on the line, screaming at the top of our lungs, and putting our safety at risk for our community.” Rodriguez closed her speech by chanting what had been the theme of the day: “¡Sí se puede!”

The protest was called by Michigan 50501 with many grassroots groups arriving with signs, banners, megaphones and community members. These same organizations, including Detroit Comité de Acción Comunitaria (DCAC), Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DAARPR), Detroit Anti-War Committee, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization, are helping organize Detroit 50501’s “Day Without Immigrants” protest on June 14.

#DetroitMI #MI #ImmigrantRights #ICE #LosAngeles #DCAC #DAARPR #DAWC

Los Angeles, CA – In a hotly debated Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board meeting February 13, a motion to lessen the negative impact on public schools from charter school co-location passed 4 to 3.

The original September 2023 motion, by Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Rociso Rivas, basically called for a study by the superintendent on the negative impact of charter schools that reside inside public schools. At the Tuesday meeting, a new policy was approved that will help hold back the growth of charter school co-locations.

Antonieta Garcia of East Los Angeles, an advocate and mother of children in LAUSD, stated: “This is a big victory for our ELA community. We have been fighting co-location and the saturation of charter schools for many years!”

The charter industry has used California’s Proposition 39 to target Black and Chicano community public schools to take up classroom space and recruit students. Co-locations negatively impact local public schools by taking away funding and classroom space.

The motion makes one of the most significant changes to local charter school policy since the state first required school systems to offer space to charters more than 20 years ago.

United Teachers Los Angeles led the campaign in support of the motion; uniting with Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, Reclaim Our Schools, Eastside Padres, and Centro CSO.

Centro CSO in the past has led successful campaigns against charter schools. At Garfield High School, they stopped a Green Dot takeover; at Roosevelt High, they stopped a Collegiate Charter school co-location, and they stopped KIPP Promesa from building a large charter school in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Centro CSO also supported the work to oust KIPP Poder at Gascon School in Montebello Unified School District.

Several mothers of LAUSD students called in to make a public comment supporting the motion, giving examples of how charter schools target students with recruitment campaigns causing lower enrollment in local public schools.

Boyle Heights and East LA are saturated with charter schools due to the ex-LAUSD board member Monica Garcia opening the door. Four of our good public schools have an Extera Charter school on campus at Second Street, Breed Street, Lorena and Eastman elementary schools. East LA also has several KIPP, Arts and Action and now a charter high school Ednovate Esperanza near Garfield High.

Antonia Montes, teacher at Eastman Avenue school, spoke via phone, pointing out how Extera charter school took over more space causing problems at Eastman Avenue school. She stated about the February 13 resolution, “This is a first step in minimizing disruption to our students' academic and vital social emotional growth.”

Dr. Rocio Rivas in particular has portrayed charter backers as trying to destroy public education by “privatizing” it. The charter industry, she said, has been “taken over by charter school management organizations, huge industries that are profiting.”

The resolution prohibits charters from moving onto campuses deemed especially vulnerable to harm by disruption.

Board members George McKenna and Jackie Goldberg – who won office with support from the teachers union – are not running for reelection. Goldberg is a long time social justice champion who has criticized the charter school industry for targeting our working-class Black and Chicano communities.

Voting for the resolution were Goldberg, Rivas, McKenna and Scott Schmerelson. Voting against it were Nick Melvoin, Tanya Ortiz Franklin and Kelly Gonez. These last three are supported by the charter school industry with large sums of campaign money.

Future charter school policy will be at stake next year in school board elections that are usually the most high-spending in the nation.

The last LAUSD board election of Dr. Rocio Rivas gave it a pro-public, pro-union majority. This is why this year's LAUSD elections are critical to re-elect Scot Schmerelson and either Karla Griego or Fidencio Gallardo to replace Jackie Goldberg who is retiring after a long successful career in public office.

This has been a long fight against privatization. Parents, students and teachers rejoiced when the vote was announced. Dr. Rivas and Ms. Goldberg met the joyous crowd outside to cheers and chants of “Si se puede!”

#LosAngeles #PeoplesStruggles #PublicEducation #SchoolBoard #LAUSD #CentroCSO

On November 10, the LA District Attorney George Gascon announced that Deputy Remin Pineda has been charged in the murder of David Ordaz Jr. while he was experiencing a mental health crisis in front of his home in East LA. This is a huge win for the struggle against police terror in Los Angeles as former DA Jackie Lacey refused to press charges on any police officers involved with the 700+ deadly shootings during her tenure of 8 years.

Pineda was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault under color of authority for the on duty shooting death of the 34 year old, father of 3. This is the 3nd instance where the DA Gascon’s office has pressed charges on law enforcement for unlawfully killing unarmed civilians.

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 – is known for its aggressive, violent behavior and long history of killing Chicano young 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 said that Ordaz Jr. charged at the deputies with a knife, footage recorded by a neighbor shows that he did not pose a threat. Deputy Pineda walked over to Ordaz as he lay on the ground bleeding, already shot multiple times and fired an additional deadly shot to his upper body.

Since his murder, Ordaz’s loved ones have not only fought for justice in his case but also becoming 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.

To become involved in the police accountability committee of CSO, reach us at (323) 943-2030, CentroCSO@gmail.com, or @CentroCSO on Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more information.

#LosAngeles #CentroCommunityServiceOrganizationCSO

Los Angeles, CA – On June 17, Roosevelt High School Alumni for Black Lives Matter (RHS Alumni for BLM) held a rally in Boyle Heights. Chanting “Prosecute killer cops!” and “Defund the police,” participants marched almost two miles, from Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights to downtown Los Angeles.

Once in downtown, the marchers joined Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles for their weekly protest against Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey. The weekly protests denounce Lacey for her notorious refusal to prosecute cops who unjustly brutalize and murder Chicano and Black Angelinos.

#LosAngeles #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #BoyleHeights #BlackLivesMatterLA #RooseveltHighSchoolAlumni #ProsecuteKillerCops

Los Angeles, CA – On October 12, hundreds of people gathered downtown to demand Trump’s concentration camps be closed. Many organizations and labor unions came together including NDLON Day Labor Organizing Centers and MEChA de CSULA with a clear message, “Close the camps.” October 12 was a national day of action in which multiple cities participated.

Speakers included a representative from the teachers union – UTLA. Another speaker, Sol Marquez of Centro CSO, said, “We need to call them what they are – concentration camps. The U.S. has a long history of using concentration camps, they did it to Japanese-Americans and they’re doing it now. We need to close these camps everywhere, not just in L.A. or near the border. And we have to stand in solidarity with Central American refugees. The U.S. destabilizes their governments and economies, forcing them to take dangerous journeys, only to be locked up once they get here. Close the camps.”

The crowd marched in the streets to the Hall of Justice, office of LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. They chanted, “El pueblo, unido, jamas será vencido!” The crowd then marched onto the steps of the building and heard from a few more speakers demanding that Sheriff Villanueva stop any cooperation with ICE at the jails. Black Lives Matter speaker Greg Akili also denounced District Attorney Jackie Lacey for not prosecuting killer cops. After the speakers, people performed a mock die-in symbolizing the dozens of immigrants and refugees who have died in the camps, including six children. As they read each of the names of the people who died, a person in the crowd would fall to the ground, symbolizing their deaths.

The crowd marched on to the Federal Metropolitan Detention Center, where many immigrants are held. They continued chanting, “Close the camps!” And “Policia, la Migra! La misma porqueria!” Hundreds gathered in front of the building. Marquez declared, “Trump in the White House hasn’t made the situation for immigrants, refugees, nor oppressed nationalities any easier. He’s inciting vigilantes to come after Chicanos at Walmarts, or Border Patrol agents to shoot into crowds of people. We must remain strong and keep building the fight to protect each other. We outnumber the rich, and they can’t stop us all.”

Centro CSO is an endorser of the “Legalization for All” call and marched with a banner that read, “Legalización para todos, lucha contra Trump” or “Legalization for all, fight against Trump.”

Centro CSO meets every third Wednesday of the month, 6 p.m., at Benjamin Franklin Library in Boyle Heights. Their contact information is 323-943-2030, centrocso@gmail.com, facebook.com/CentroCSO

#LosAngeles #ImmigrantRights #ChicanoLatino #legalizationForAll #AbolishICE #CloseTheCamps #BorderPatrol

Los Angeles, CA – On Aug. 29, the strong and inspirational Gloria Arellanes spoke at the Centro CSO yearly Chicano Moratorium commemoration, held at Self Help Graphics. Arellanes, who is a proud Chicana and Tongva, spoke about her invaluable experiences while building the Chicano movement for self-determination and liberation.

“I grew up with parents who insisted I call myself ‘Chicana,’” said Arellanes. “But I’d later find out that I was both Chicana and that through my mother was also Tongva. Not many people grow up understanding and embracing their roots.”

When the East LA Chicano Student Blowouts/Walkouts of 1968 happened, Arellanes was already a full-fledged militant, serving as the first female Minister of Finance and Administration of the Brown Berets. During this time police, the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover and President Nixon saw the Brown Berets as a dangerous organization.

Arellanes would go on to participate in the Poor People’s Campaign during the summer of 1968, in Washington D.C., where she marched alongside New Mexico-based Crusade for Justice leader Corky Gonzales, as well as many East LA Chicano activists like Carlos Montes. Additionally, Arellanes helped build for the now famous Chicano Moratorium of August 29, 1970, after helping with the first one of December 1969.

“I had left the Brown Berets in 1970 around that time and joined the Chicano Moratorium Committee,” said Arellanes.

Arellanes then helped create the Las Adelitas de Aztlan – an all Chicana, women-led and organized group. Arellanes recounted that during the March 1970 protest the Las Adelitas created signs and posters, and marched in the pouring rain, stating “We carried white crosses to show the high number of deaths during the Vietnam War. I was carrying the cross with my cousin’s name on it.”

Remembering the August 29, 1970 moratorium, Arellanes said, “I was there when LAPD and the LA Sheriffs turned our peaceful and beautiful rally event into a horrifying and bloody one. I have PTSD from what they did to us. I was tear gassed and I couldn’t breathe. People were running and screaming. Corky Gonzales, the rest of the Crusade for Justice, and countless others were brutally arrested that day.”

Arellanes talked about the aftermath of the 1970 Moratorium. “I was attending the memorial service for Lyn Ward, and what did I see in the bushes? Detectives surveilling us. The complete disregard for our lives, the ones they themselves had taken, was too much for me. They killed Lyn and then they continued to spy on us to see how we would react. I took a long break from activism after that.”

After the Chicano Moratorium repressive measures would be taken by the government to violently destroy the Chicano movement with Infiltrators and agent provocateurs.

The Boyle Hight’s commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium included many of the original members of the Chicano Moratorium Committee.

Arellanes continues to organize, working with Centro CSO and Black Lives Matter: Los Angeles to demand Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey prosecute killer cops. Arellanes is proof that the fight for self-determination and liberation is never over. With a growing resurgence of the newest generations returning to Chicanismo, Chicano elders are encouraged to join in the fight once again.

#LosAngeles #LosAngelesFL #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #Antiracism #GloriaArellanes #EastLAChicanoStudentBlowouts #PoorPeoplesCampaign

Los Angeles, CA – On August 2, family and friends held a loud protest over the July 14 killing of Erick Aguirre by the Rialto Police Department (RPD). The 50-person protest included a picket line in front of the RPD, posters and a large banner with Aguirre’s image. The protest got wide coverage by local media and received support from passing cars with waves and horns honking.

The family says the shooting and killing of Erick Aguirre was unjustified. He was followed and stopped by the Rialto PD. Aguirre’s friend, Samantha Goode, who was also in the car, was attacked by a police dog and had her leg mauled. She was not arrested and as the only witness stated that the police had no reason to shoot and kill Aguirre.

Goode stated that as they stopped the car, Aguirre kept both his hands on the steering wheel and that the police where never in danger and not threatened. The police later recovered a gun in the car and are falsely saying they were threatened.

Odila, Erick Aguirre’s mother, thanked the protesters and said she will fight to stop police killings, so other mothers would not have to go through this.

A family cousin asked Centro CSO to help the family with advice and support. Carlos Montes, a lead Centro CSO member and organizer, met with the family and, with the urging of the grandmother, the family decided to hold a protest and fight for justice. Centro CSO helped the family organize the protest, contact media and get legal support for Erick’s family.

Erick Aguirre was born in Los Angeles was a resident of Bloomington community in Sam Bernardino and attended local schools. He was 25 years old and had recovered from cancer after losing his right foot. Bloomington is a working-class, primarily Chicano community that lacks basic government services and has a history of police abuse by the San Bernardino sheriffs.

Aguirre was well known and well liked by his community and family and leaves behind loving family. His younger brother, Nicolas Aguirre, spoke at rally and said the family will continue fighting for justice in memory of his brother.

The family is demanding justice, an independent investigation and an end to police killings of Chicano young men in the San Bernardino part of Southern California known as the Inland Empire. For information on future activities, contact Centro CSO by emailing centrocso@gmail.com.

#LosAngeles #LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #Aztlan #CentroCSO #ErickAguirre #RialtoPoliceDepartment

Los Ángeles, CA – La noche del 10 de agosto, cientos de personas se reunieron en el corazón de la comunidad de Boyle Heights, entre Breed St. y Cesar Chavez Ave, para exigir que se haga justica por el asesinato de Jesse Romero, el joven de apenas 14 años de edad que fue abatido a tiros la noche anterior por la policía de Los Ángeles (LAPD por sus siglas en ingles). El incidente ocurrió luego de que el LAPD detuviera al joven por hacer grafiti. Jesse Romero es la quinta persona y el segundo menor, asesinado este año por el LAPD en Boyle Heights; el LAPD ya lleva 12 asesinatos en la ciudad de Los Ángeles en tan solo este año.

La familia de Romero organizó una vigilia para recordar a su hijo. La familia solicitó la ayuda de la Organización de Servicios Comunitario (CSO por sus siglas en ingles) para incorporarse y ayudar a organizar el movimiento de justicia —el Centro CSO está organizando la lucha contra los asesinatos policiales en Boyle Heights. Cientos de vecinos y simpatizantes participaron en la vigilia, al igual que los familiares de las víctimas de abusos policiales, quienes también hicieron presencia para apoyar a la familia Romero.

Mientras la comunidad se reunía, la presencia de los policías que paseaban para observar la protesta, intensificó la indignación del pueblo. La multitud respondió con gritos de “¡Asesinos!” ¡Asesinos!”. La ira colectiva se acentuó más aun, al ver un helicóptero policial volando por encima de la protesta. El pueblo continúo exclamando, “¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!” y “¿Que queremos?, ¡Justicia! ¿Para quién? ¡Jesse!

El 14 de febrero del 2016, Edwin Rodriguez también fue asesinado por el Departamento de Sheriffs del condado de Los Ángeles. Su madre, Estela Rodriguez ha continuado luchando para que se haga justicia por su hijo, y al unirse a la protesta dijo “no puedo quedarme sentada en mi casa ahogada en dolor esperando que se haga justicia. He decidido unirme a la familia de Jesse Romero para exigir justicia, y que estos asesinatos no vuelvan a ocurrir. Tenemos un deber como madres y padres de siempre luchar por nuestros hijos y esta lucha a veces tiene que ocurrir en las calles”.

La familia del joven de 16 años, José Mendez, también se unió a la familia de Jesse Romero. El señor Juan Mendez dijo “yo trabajo en un restaurante, y cuando hay una queja yo sé con quién debo hablar, ¿pero con cual supervisor debe uno hablar cuando el LAPD asesina a uno de nuestros hijos? Mi hijo Juan Peruzzi solo tenía 16 años cuando el 6 de febrero del 2016 la policía de los Ángeles le disparó y lo mató. Ahora, el LAPD mata a un niño de tan solo 14 años y como padre me pregunto si mi hijo de 9 años está en peligro. Ningún padre debe temer perder a un hijo en manos de la policía”.

Norma Espinoza, la tía de Jesse Romero, agradeció el respaldo y apoyo que la comunidad le ha dado a su familia. Acompañándola, estuvo la señora Blanca Duenas, madre de Arturo Torrez, quien fue asesinado por el LAPD en abril de este año. La madre de otra víctima, la señora Maria Banda, también compartió la historia de cómo su hijo fue tiroteado por el LAPD hace dos años, y como luego de su milagrosa recuperación fue encarcelado.

“Será solo la unión de la clase trabajadora con los Afroamericanos y los Chicanos lo que nos llevará a la liberación y acabará con los asesinatos policiales”, dijo Carlos Montes, activista Chicano revolucionario de larga trayectoria. Agregando que “necesitamos un movimiento revolucionario que desmantele al LAPD. Demandamos y exigimos que se haga justicia por estas familias que hoy sufren. ¡Ni una muerte más en manos de los policías asesinos!”.

Mientras la multitud se dispersaba, las personas empezaron a colocar velas encendidas en el lugar de los hechos, para conmemorar la vida de Jesse Romero. La familia de Jesse Romero y el Centro CSO hicieron un llamado para una protesta y manifestación frente a la estación policial Hollenbeck, en Boyle Heights, para el sábado 13 de agosto al medio día. La lucha de los Latinos y Chicanos contra la violencia policial continua.

#LosÁngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #LosAngeles #Antiracism #JesseRomero

Los Ángeles, CA – En una rueda de prensa realizada el 5 de julio, bajo el canto de “Justicia para Edwin Rodríguez”, la familia y abogados presentaron una demanda contra el Condado de Los Ángeles y los vice-alguaciles del Departamento de Sheriffs, Andrew Alatorre y Sandy Galdámez, por el asesinato del joven padre de 24 años.

La rueda de prensa se realizó en la histórica Olivera Street Placita y contó con la asistencia y apoyo de los familiares, abogados, y miembros del Centro CSO (Organización de Servicios Comunitarios de la comunidad de Boyle Heights). Frente a los medios de comunicación latinos y americanos, el público pudo presenciar la energía de la multitud que exigía justicia.

El 14 de febrero del 2016, Edwin Rodríguez fue detenido, golpeado y muerto a tiros por oficiales del Departamento de Sheriffs de Los Ángeles. La víctima recibió 17 disparos, de los cuales 16 fueron mortales, hiriéndolo en la espalda y en la cabeza. El Departamento de Sheriffs afirma que Rodríguez andaba en un carro robado y que encontraron un arma de fuego en el lugar de los hechos.

Sin embargo, ya se ha determinado que el carro en que andaba Rodríguez no era robado y le pertenecía a su madre. Antonio Rodríguez, uno de los abogados de la familia, dijo que “No había razón para detenerlo, además, Edwin estaba desarmado cuando le dispararon y lo mataron”.

Estela Rodríguez, la madre de la víctima expresó “mi hijo era una persona trabajadora, amorosa del arte, y no merecía ser asesinado de manera tan brutal. Nosotros vamos a luchar por la justicia de mi hijo, para que esto no vuelva a ocurrir”. De igual forma, la pareja de Edwin Rodríguez, Stephanie Yánez, también agrego que él era un buen padre y no merecía morir tan joven.

Jorge González, parte del equipo de abogados que está manejando el caso indicó que los oficiales del Departamento de Sheriffs de la ciudad de Los Ángeles no son sometidos ante la ley por los asesinatos que cometen. En la rueda de prensa también estuvo presente Carlos Montes, activista y coordinador Chicano de larga trayectoria del Centro CSO, quien indico que “estos asesinatos policiales han estado ocurriendo por muchos años, y ya se ha convertido en un patrón de abuso y brutalidad contra la comunidad Chicana. Los oficiales del Departamento de Sheriffs del Condado de Los Ángeles son unos asesinos racistas”.

La familia Rodríguez y el Centro CSO exigen que se despida y enjuicie a los vice-alguaciles Alatorre y Galdámez.

Según la demanda, el 14 de febrero, alrededor de las 3:00am, los vice-alguaciles Alatorre and Galdámez ilegalmente detuvieron un vehículo dentro del cual se encontraban el señor Rodríguez y sus dos amigos. En la intersección de la calle Ferris y Whittier Boulevard, en la parte este de la ciudad de Los Ángeles, los vice-alguaciles se acercaron al vehículo con pistolas en mano mientras les gritaban instrucciones. Después de haber sacado a la conductora físicamente del vehículo, los vice-alguaciles procedieron a sacar forzosamente del asiento de pasajeros a Eduardo Rodríguez (Edwin), deteniéndolo en el medio de la calle, donde de forma repentina, sin aviso ni provocación alguna, los vice-alguaciles Alatorre y Galdámez le dispararon 17 veces en la parte de atrás de la cabeza y el torso, causándole la muerte inmediatamente.

#LosÁngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #LosAngeles #EdwinRodriguez

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.

Supporters of Montes rallied outside the court house, where Montes told of the May 17, 2011, 5:00 a.m. raid on his home, where the L.A. County Sheriffs Emergency Operations Bureau/ SWAT Team, armed with automatic weapons, smashed down his door, creating a life threatening situation.

“The government knows its case against Carlos Montes is really weak,” said Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. “This a political prosecution and they have made up a lie that Montes admitted to a felony record while he was being held in squad car after the raid on his home.” The point of the Feb. 8 proceeding was to get to the bottom of this false allegation.

Background

Carlos Montes is one of the 24 anti-war and international solidarity activists who have been hit by FBI and grand jury repression since Sept. 24, 2010. Like many of the others who have been caught up in this witch hunt, Montes was one of the organizers of the massive protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Montes' defense has challenged the state’s claim that he has a felony record from his 1969 arrest for leading a student strike demanding Chicano Studies and Black Studies at East L.A. College. That the legal record does not support the claim of a past felony should rule out the District Attorney going ahead with this case. The government is alleging that it was a crime for Montes to buy several guns at a local sporting goods store, because of the (nonexistent) felony record.

The prosecution is basing their evidence on a 42 year old incident, where, during this student strike and rally, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department invaded the East L.A. college campus, beating and arresting student protesters. In the aftermath of the turmoil, Montes was arrested while driving home with a fellow activist and family. He was charged with assaulting a sheriff’s deputy. Even then, the sheriffs targeted Montes because of his politics – he was a leader of the La Vida Nueva on campus and the Brown Berets in the community.

Growing support

Support for Montes and 23 other activists under attack by the FBI and U.S. federal grand jury is growing. Recently, Montes received a letter of support from the 350,000-member California Teachers Association and the 40,000 members at LAUSD United Teachers of Los Angeles and the UAW local at UCLA. Solidarity events, demanding the charges against Montes be dropped, have taken place across the country.

“Carlos Montes is a hero who has worked tirelessly to build the anti-war, trade union, immigrant and education rights movements. We must not let the government put him in jail,” said Kelly.

Montes is facing up to 18 years of prison time.

FBI the issue at next court appearance

The next court hearing will be on March 2, in Department 123, where Montes’ attorney Jorge Gonzalez will press a motion to obtain documents on the role of the FBI in instigating the raid and prosecution of Montes.

There is ample evidence that the FBI was behind the attack on Montes. When Montes was placed in a squad car after the May 17 raid, an FBI agent tried to question him about Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

The LA Committee Against FBI Repression is urging all supporters of Montes to attend this hearing.

#LosAngelesCA #LosAngeles #CarlosMontes #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression

Starting in the heart of the historic Los Angeles district of La Placita, the militant march first headed to the Metropolitan Federal Detention Center, where the chants of, “Obama, escucha! Estamos en la lucha,” and “Esta es nuestra tierra, esta es nuestra lucha!” rang out. Speakers denounced President Obama for continuing to support Secure Communities (SCOMM). “‘Secure communities’ makes for the insecure communities of the Poli Migra,” said one demonstrator.

Carlos Montes talked about the FBI role in advocating for SCOMM and the current attack on anti-war activists. Loyda Alvarado, the rally emcee, spoke of the need to protest for immigrant rights on International Human Rights Day. Surita Patel, an attorney with Center for Constitutional Rights, talked about the lawsuit filed against Sheriff Lee Baca and the L.A. county sheriffs, demanding the release of data on how SCOMM had been used against immigrants. Miriam, a street vendor, spoke about how the L.A. sheriffs harass and constantly ticket street vendors trying to survive.

The march then headed to the Los Angeles County Central Jail. There, Pablo Alvarado, leader of the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, denounced SCOMM as a tool of ICE and local sheriffs to deport more immigrants. Dream Network students Jonathan and Isaac talked about their protest in Alabama at an ICE office and how they saw hundreds of immigrants crowded in ICE detention centers.

Also speaking at the jail, Erick Huerta spoke of the impact of SCOMM on undocumented students and youth who are left alone after their parents are deported. Gerard Lenoir, an African American activist with the U.S. Human Rights Network, express solidarity and condemned the racist anti-immigrant laws recently passed in Georgia and Alabama. A representative of the International League of People’s Struggle spoke of the plight of Asian immigrants from the Philippines. Day laborer Mariano Hernandez spoke of the constant harassment and fear of police when trying to work.

The marchers pointed out that Sheriff Lee Baca is a strong advocate of SCOMM, which has caused untold suffering for thousands of working class immigrants. Sheriff Baca was also called upon to resign because of the conditions in the L.A. County jails, which include the beating of prisoners and corruption, like sheriff deputies selling cell phones to prisoners. The FBI is investigating these charges against the sheriffs.

The march included members of the U.S. Human Rights Network, National Day Laborers Organizing Network, Southern California Immigration Coalition, Committee to Stop FBI Repression – L.A., Union del Barrio, International Action Center, Mecha de Santee HS, SGV Dream Network, CHIRLA, CARECEN, Pomona Day Labor Center, CLASE and others.

#LosAngelesCalifornia #LosAngeles #PoorPeoplesMovements #ICE #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #WorkersAndGlobalization #SecureCommunities #SCOMM #Baca

Organized by Centro Community Service Organization (Centro CSO) and People's Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment (People's CORE), the conference brought together community members, activists, cultural workers, and community based organizations with a history of organizing in the oppressed nationality communities. Centro CSO organizes in L.A.'s Chicano/Mexicano community and Peoples CORE is based among Filipinos.

It was East Los Angeles's first conference dealing with a subject that many would not discuss. In the days following Sept. 11, we had witnessed the sudden rise in chauvinism. For many, the events that took place six months ago shocked, disoriented and caused some to question their beliefs.

The challenge facing Centro CSO and the People's CORE wasn't trying to determine where they stood, rather it was trying to engage the communities they served. The coordinated efforts of these organizations gave rise to the conference. Activists are aware of the brutal policies and the atrocities the United States has carried out against other nations, and how the people have been exploited and oppressed.

There was a real need to take a stance against this U.S. aggression and there were our communities to consider. So the conference was put together to voice and organize opposition to the U.S. war on the people of Afghanistan; its expansion to other countries, like the Philippines; the increase in racist practices, especially against immigrant workers; and the effects of the economic crisis.

Conference speakers and panelists included representatives of the Arab American Action Network, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Okinawan, and the MN Anti-War Committee.

They brought first-hand accounts, experience and knowledge on dealing with effects of the U.S. government's foreign policies. The subjects for discussion covered education, militarization, racism, national oppression and the war.

This type of forum allowed the community to gather information contrary to what they might have heard, or what they might have believed. The information would expose the truth that has been hidden by the corporate media. This helped people judge the government on the basis of what it does rather than what it says.

For many, the panelists' testimonies were astonishing. Two of Centro CSO's local community members spoke of education and the militarization of the youth. Their speech was profound and moving, even in the translation from Spanish to English. It set the standard for the speeches that would follow.

The day brought unexpected surprises. The feeling that arose that afternoon sparked a new energy, fueled by a desire to embrace the strength of the community. The culmination of culture, poetry, music and art inspired even the very young. A little girl spoke out, trying to express her appreciation and gratitude for the changes Centro CSO had brought to her school. Though she got caught in the moment and couldn't finish her statement, she had captivated the crowd as the passion of what she felt fell from the corner of her eyes. We knew what we had achieved that day would lay the foundation, a blueprint for our strategies to follow.

#LosAngelesCA #LosAngeles #AntiwarMovement #News #AsianNationalities #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO #PeoplesCORE #EastLosAngeles

The first issue is educational curriculum. We demand that Chicana/o Studies, which teaches about the history of Mexicana/os and their social, cultural, political and economic experiences in the United States, be given full institutional status in every college campus.

Chicana/o Studies needs to be included in the social studies curriculum of grades K-12. We plan to focus on curriculum development in the present school system, targeting a few schools in the East Los Angeles area, and mobilizing students around these issues.

The second issue was building more schools. The state of California needs to use public funds to build more schools rather than more jails, especially in densely populated areas, to eliminate the overcrowded classrooms.

The schools we have are in bad condition. There needs to be a clean up of all school campuses (especially the student rest rooms), along with more money for repairs, for safety and to modernize the public school campuses.

The third issue was bilingual education. The demands are to put more pressure on the L.A. District School Board to inform parents of their rights to request a Bilingual Waiver. A waiver is a parent's request form to receive bilingual education classes for their child. We demand equal education for all students on all “track systems.” Some track systems have “honors” curriculum and others have “regular” curriculum. This type of tracking only causes more academic inequality among students. Standardized testing, like the SAT 9, which discriminates on the basis of language, class and race must be stopped.

The last demand is to repeal Proposition 227. This state proposition abolished bilingual education in the California public school system.

Liberation requires a real education. The current policies of the L.A. school district are discriminatory and under-educate our kids. Research documents that holding students back in first grade increases the chances that a student will drop out by 50%, and that holding students back in second grade increases the chances of dropout by 90%. The Harvard Civil Rights Project found that L.A. county schools in communities of color are 12 times more likely to lack basic materials than schools in white communities, and are six times as likely to have less experienced teachers.

For further information contact

NEW RAZA LEFT

511 ECHANDIA

LOS ANGELES, CA 90003

(323) 221-4000

#LosAngelesCA #LosAngeles #ImmigrantRights #News #ChicanoLatino #NewRazaLeft #Proposition227 #LAUSD

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Latinos Against War.

Hunger Strike for Legalization, Support Grows

Independent Port Truckers Association joins Hunger Strike for Legalization.

The Hunger Strike for Legalization is receiving wide support after kicking off its first day Monday, April 23 with 14 people. Staying overnight, members of FOMUUSA, March 25 Coalition, Latinos Against War and Casa El Salvador stayed in tents to call for real immigration reform and an end to Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and deportations.

Participants include Galdys Pinto, Javier Rodriguez and Carlos Montes.

The March 25 Coalition is calling on all sectors of the community to participate in the hunger strike by committing to one or more days.

#LosAngelesCA #LosAngeles #ChicanoLatino #Statement #ImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcementICE #HungerStrikeForLegalization