Los Angeles, CA – Students from East LA Performing Arts Magnet (ELAPA) at Esteban E. Torres High School walked out April 27, to demand the removal of Principal John Edward Estoesta. The students were initiated into action when one of their beloved teachers, James Lotter, who teaches AP literature, was fired in front of his students with zero explanation.
Los Angeles, CA – The largest union in the state of California, representing more than 96,000 state workers, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 held a spirited rally in downtown this morning, June 22. Rank and filers, union representatives, and supporters numbered 100 people. A large sound truck adjacent to Spring Street and in front of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Los Angeles office, provided a stage for speakers.
Los Angeles, CA – On June 17, Centro CSO and allied organizations held a march and rally at La Placita in Los Angeles as part of the Legalization 4 All Network’s Week of Action to protest Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Senate Bill 1718. The L4A Network called for nationwide protests as SB 1718 is an attack on undocumented immigrants as well as anyone who employs or aids them. For example, hospitals in Florida will be required to ask a patient’s immigration status, while out-of-state driver’s licenses for undocumented people will be outlawed.
Los Angeles, CA – For the eighth year in a row, Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) held their May Day march and rally in Boyle Heights. Over 50 people gathered to commemorate International Workers Day and to uplift the demands of legalization for all the undocumented, protecting public education, and community control of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The event was emceed by David Pulido of Orange County CSO and Juliana Castellón of Centro CSO.
Los Angeles, CA – On April 5, the final day of the Legalization for All Network’s border delegation, activists spent the morning listening to testimonies from seven immigrant students from the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. The students – all Guatemalan youth who’ve lived in the United States for less than a year – explained the conditions in Central America that pushed them to leave home, their experiences while detained by ICE, and the struggles of having to work to support their families.
Los Angeles, CA – The Legalization for All Network (L4A) concluded day four of the 2023 border delegation with a virtual panel that included speakers from different immigrant rights organizations. The panel was moderated by Jenny Bekenstein, a member of Centro Community Service Organization (CSO). Sol Márquez, member of Centro CSO and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) grounded the discussion in the broader purpose of the delegation – to deepen participants' knowledge of different immigrant rights struggles and to find unity across these struggles.
Los Ángeles, CA – Day one of the Legalization for All (L4A) Network border delegation began today, April 1. Delegates of the trip included Drusie Cassanova from the Bay Area of California and Angel Naranjo from Chicago. Unfortunately, 12 delegates with MIRAC traveling from Minnesota were unable to join the first day due to flight delays but will unite with the delegation on day two in San Diego.
Los Angeles, CA – With chants of, “We are the union, the mighty, mighty union – fighting for justice, respect and fair wages,” 30,000 SEIU and UTLA teachers and service workers in Los Angeles went on strike from March 21 to March 23. Los Angeles Unified School District and SEIU’s contract expired in 2020, and, after three years of negotiations hitting dead ends, they decided to strike, and they are determined to win better wages, healthcare and staffing.
Los Angeles, CA – At 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday March 21, over 30,000 school workers in the Los Angeles Unified School (LAUSD) including food service workers, custodians, special education assistants and many more job titles will walk off the job on a strike. The workers are members of SEIU Local 99, also known as Education Workers United.
Los Angeles, CA – On March 15, the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and SEIU Local 99, which represents cafeteria workers, bus drivers, custodians, teacher assistants and other education workers, held a massive rally at Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles. The action culminated with the announcement that UTLA and SEIU Local 99 would go on a joint three-day strike, the first in the two unions’ history, from March 21-23.