Anaheim, CA – Rosie Camacho se acercó al podio del Ayuntamiento de Anaheim el 21 de abril, apretando contra su pecho una muñeca tejida. Camacho era la madre de Albert Arzola, y la muñeca simbolizaba el espíritu de su hijo.

Camacho dijo, “El 6 de diciembre nunca volverá a ser lo mismo. ¡Las personas que se suponía que debían cuidar de él lo asesinaron! ¡Asesinaron a mi hijo, justo delante de mis ojos! ¿Y quieres que confíe en ellos?”

Camacho continuó, “¡Necesito saber quién disparó a mi hijo! Apuesto a que sigue en el departamento de policía haciendo su trabajo, intentando matar a la siguiente persona.”

Doce miembros de la familia de Albert, junto con miembros de la Organización de Servicio Comunitarios del Condado de Orange (CSO OC), exigieron justicia ante el Concejo Municipal de Anaheim. En una victoria para la familia, y tras meses de presión pública, al final de la sesión del consejo, la alcaldesa Ashleigh Aitken anunció que se había revelado el nombre del policía asesino a los abogados de la familia Arzola. Aitken también pidió al abogado municipal Robert Fabela que informara sobre los avances en la publicación del informe de la autopsia. La lucha por otras demandas continúa, incluyendo la divulgación pública del nombre del policía asesino, su despido del Departamento y más.

Grace Arzola, tía de Albert Arzola, dijo, “Albert fue asesinado a las 9:32 PM. Como residente de toda la vida de Anaheim, el domingo estaba aquí y se estaban disparando los fuegos artificiales de Disney. Me di cuenta de que mi sobrino estaba sentado en el suelo, perdiendo la vida, y a menos de una milla de distancia, ustedes tenían fuegos artificiales. La diferencia que supone menos de una milla en la forma en que nos tratan.”

Adlai Carrillo dijo que la noche en que Albert fue asesinado por la policía de Anaheim, nadie llamó a la policía. Los agentes que mataron a Albert se encontraban en una de las llamadas “patrullas de represión de pandillas”. Carrillo dijo, “Todos sabemos en qué se han convertido estas patrullas: una herramienta utilizada para perseguir, discriminar y acosar a personas de comunidades desfavorecidas bajo la etiqueta de ‘vigilancia proactiva’. Y por eso, los oficiales ‘entraron en contacto’ con Albert sin ninguna razón legítima”. Carrillo dijo, “¿Por qué su oficial saltó de su auto con el arma ya desenfundada? ¿Con el dedo ya en el disparador, listo para disparar antes de evaluar cualquier cosa?”

Grace Arzola explicó cómo el segundo oficial que emboscó a Albert esa noche nunca activó su cámara corporal. Ella dijo, “Si todavía está en el departamento y trabajando, ¿por qué no lo han despedido? Eso es algo crucial. Por eso les dieron esas cámaras: para mostrar la transparencia de todo el incidente. Pero en el momento más importante, cuando le quitas la vida a alguien, ¿su cámara estaba apagada? ¿Y ahora quieren ponernos bajo vigilancia? ¡Esto es una broma!”

Arzola se refería a la decisión del Concejo Municipal de aprobar la instalación de equipos de lectura automática de placas. Esta tecnología se promociona como una forma de reducir la delincuencia, pero en realidad se utiliza para vigilar a la población y, en ciudades de todo el país, los datos se han compartido con agencias federales como ICE. Más tarde esa misma noche, el Concejo Municipal de Anaheim votó por unanimidad a favor de aprobar la instalación de los equipos, con un costo de $736,344 dólares, a pesar de las protestas del público.

Marie Flores Cofinco conectó el pasado con el presente cuando habló sobre el asesinato de Fermín Vincent Valenzuela a manos de la policía de Anaheim en 2016. “Estoy aquí para recordar a la ciudad de Anaheim, para recordar a los concejales y a la alcaldesa el asesinato de mi sobrino: Fermín Vincent Valenzuela. El 2 de julio de 2016, el agente Daniel Wolfe estranguló a mi sobrino hasta matarlo con la ayuda del agente Woojin Jun, bajo la supervisión del sargento Daniel González.” Cofinco dijo, “El sargento González supervisó y dio instrucciones a Daniel Wolfe diciéndole ‘Mantén ese estrangulamiento. Mantén ese estrangulamiento. Mantén ese estrangulamiento.’”

Según Cofinco, durante el juicio, entre 40 y 50 agentes de policía de Anaheim uniformados entraron en la sala del tribunal con la intención de intimidar a la familia de Valenzuela. Pero al final, la ciudad se vio obligada a pagar $13.2 millones de dólares a los hijos de Valenzuela.

David Pulido, miembro de CSO, dijo, “Están ocultando la identidad del asesino de Albert. Están ocultando el hecho de que la policía de Anaheim está llena de asesinos. El oficial que mató a Marcel Ceja en 2011 sigue en el departamento. Se llama David García. Los oficiales que mataron a Fermín Vincent Valenzuela siguen en el departamento. Se llaman Woojin Jun y Daniel Wolfe. El oficial que mató a Joel Acevedo en 2012 y a César Cruz en 2009 sigue en el departamento. Se llama Kelly Phillips. Lo sé porque CSO consiguió recientemente las listas actualizadas de la policía de Anaheim”.

Pearl Arzola, hermana de Albert, señaló que la ciudad intentó ocultar el nombre del agente alegando amenazas sin fundamento contra la vida del policía asesino. Ella dijo, “¿Cómo es que los estamos amenazando? Lo único que exigimos es justicia. ¡La justicia para mi hermano no es una amenaza! Ustedes tienen armas. ¡Nosotros no tenemos armas!”

Pulido concluyó su comentario diciendo, “Durante décadas, Anaheim y su policía se han interpuesto en el camino de la justicia para las familias. Por eso CSO lucha por el control comunitario de la policía. Tenemos que construir nuestro propio poder para hacer que la policía rinda cuentas. Su Junta de Revisión Policial fue un comienzo, pero no fue lo suficientemente lejos. Necesitamos una comisión elegida democráticamente con el poder de disciplinar y despedir a los policías asesinos. ¡Justicia para Albert Arzola! ¡Justicia para Fermín Vincent Valenzuela! ¡Justicia para Joey Acevedo!”

#AnaheimCA #CA #OC #OrangeCounty #AlbertArzola #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities

Anaheim, CA – On May 5, Community Service Organization (CSO OC) along with the family of Albert Arzola mobilized to Anaheim City Council to demand that killer cop Nathan Garcia be fired from Anaheim Police Department. When the family and CSO OC arrived, they came with signs that read “Fire killer cop Nathan Garcia.” The city council was visibly shaken and rattled by the signs.

Pearl Arzola opened her comment with, “It has been five months, and you have not given us anything but a name, but that name is still patrolling our neighborhood. Officer Garcia is not a part of a gang unit, so why is he allowed to patrol in an unmarked car terrorizing the whole community?” Arzola followed with “I get really bad anxiety attacks and so does my sister in-law, and you guys just continue to not care. You guys continue to pay this person. You need to fire him immediately.”

Arzola, who works in healthcare talked about the night of Albert’s murder, “If I would’ve done any necessary measures I could’ve saved my brother’s life, but I couldn’t because your officer was pointing a gun at me saying get the fuck inside.”

Pearl’s comment set the tone. The Arzola family, CSO OC members, and other city council attendees chanted “Fire him! Fire him!” and “Fire Nathan Garcia!”. The crowd was very emotional and angry all night.

Leslie Lopez, a cousin of Albert Arzola, called out a city council member by saying, “Norma [Campos Kurtz] isn’t here, but I wanted to congratulate her because she still has a killer cop working within her district. We know this because we saw him. About a month ago he was at a raid within the same neighborhood where the officers were high-fiving him like it was a celebration that he was back. There is nothing to celebrate.”

Lopez continued, speaking about the night of Albert’s murder. “Matt Sutter, the public information officer stated there were 12 people detained. I want to show you the 12 people detained.” Lopez then proceeded to show images on her iPad, many of whom were children. On the live video, the city officials turned the camera away from Leslie in an attempt to hide information. Leslie then followed with “Statements were made that night. When the officers needed to move Albert they said, ‘let's drag his ass.’”

Throughout the whole night, the Arzola family yelled “Shame!” and rang bells to create noise and disruption. The noise fell on heartless ears, as did the very emotionally heavy comments of the family.

Grace Arzola stated “It’s Cinco De Mayo and I want to share a song that reminds me of my nephew. I actually listen to this song every day on my way to work. It says that when two souls truly love each other, no matter how far apart they are they will never stop loving one another. That's why, beautiful sky when I die, don’t stop loving me.” Grace continued “I will never stop loving my nephew. Until the minute I stop taking my last breath I will miss him dearly.” Grace's comment moved everyone in that room. She said it with tears in her eyes and every person felt it.

She followed her comment with “I’m not sure if you guys read the LA Times report, but Nathan Garcia had a previous incident of excessive force with a 14-year-old. If the kid’s parents had done what Nathan Garcia did, the kid would be in foster care. He profiles young Chicano males. If officer Garcia had been held accountable for that incident then my nephew would still be alive.”

David Pulido, a CSO OC member, went into further detail. “On June 27, 2024 Nathan Garcia and his partner brutally arrested an unarmed 14-year-old Chicano. They drove their knees into his back, fractured a rib, and kicked him in the genitals.” Pulido continued with “This is why we fight for community control of the police. We should have direct authority over the police and who is hired, fired and how they are disciplined.” Pulido brought a lot of anger and frustration with his comment, he continued by saying “We demand the public release of all body cam footage; we demand the release of the autopsy report, we demand that killer cop Nathan Garcia be fired!”

Donna Nelson, who’s 21-year-old son was murdered by Anaheim Police on July 22, 2012, stated, “12 months prior to the killing of my son, the Anaheim Police Department also killed David Raya, Marcel Ceja, Bernie Villegas, Rosco Cambridge, Martin Hernandez, Manuel Diaz. All within one year. In 2014 it started up again. I picture the bodies piled up here, and they kept piling, and more and more families kept coming here asking for change. We have all these layers of oversight that doesn’t do anything.” She continued, “In 2016 Gustavo Nejera was killed by officer German Alveraz who’s standing right by the door.”

After the comments ended, CSO OC members and friends and family of Albert Arzola confronted Alveraz who was standing outside the council chambers. David Pulido said this to him: “You killed a 22-year-old for what? For throwing sand?” A coworker of Albert said, “You're the only gang here, and can kill people and get away with it.” Alveraz didn’t have much to say, but he was visibly shaken. He showed no remorse for his killing of Gustavo.

Throughout the whole night, residents of Anaheim, and other impacted families alike spoke in support of the Arzola family's demand to fire Nathan Garcia from the force. The entire chamber erupted in chants, yelling at the council and Anaheim Police Chief Manny Cid to fire killer cop Nathan Garcia. Many attendees who were there for other reasons rallied behind the demands. The community’s anger and distrust and ion with Anaheim PD grows stronger by the day.

#AnaheimCA #CA #OC #OrangeCounty #CSOOC #AlbertArzola #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #KillerCop #NathanGarcia

Santa Ana, CA – On May 1, nearly 300 people packed into Sasscer Park for International Workers’ Day. The rally and march, which also commemorated the 20th anniversary of the immigrant mega marches, was organized by the Orange County May Day Coalition. The energy in the crowd grew as the emcee of the rally, Abe Quintana from Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) led chants of “ICE out of Santa Ana! ICE out of OC!”

Michelle Ceballos from UAW started by emphasizing “the wealthy have extracted more and more profit from us, kept our wages low, raised prices, and bought out our politicians! It doesn’t have to be this way! May Day reminds us that when we fight, we win!”

Speaking on the immigrant mega marches 20 years ago Ceballos added, “In 2006, on a Day Without an Immigrant, millions hit the streets to defeat an anti-immigrant law, and won. In January, hundreds of thousands across the U.S. shut it down, to get ICE to back off. Today, people joined the call to shut it down again, to keep building momentum for a mass movement!”

Erika Armenta, the wife of Noe Rodriguez, a man who was killed by Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) is also a member of CSO OC. Armenta told the crowd, “We need community control of the police to ensure that officers who have taken the lives of our loved ones face consequences-specifically, that they be fired and subsequently imprisoned. They must be held accountable for the lives they have unjustly snatched away!”

Armenta also spoke of CSO OC’s fight for immigrant rights, “Our Immigration Committee works with the working-class immigrants of the Coach Royal mobile home park who are fighting unjust evictions and abuse from Kingsley Management Corporation.”

Hussein Imreish from the Palestinian Youth Movement said,“ For the past two years we have seen how essential the labor movement is for Palestine. Through our campaigns such as Mask of Maersk and the Peoples Arms Embargo we have connected with principled and dedicated workers who reject the imperialist forces inflicting violence and exploiting our people.”

Diana Terreros from Freedom Road Socialist Organization Orange County (FRSO OC) kicked off her speech by saying, “Immigrants are super exploited to increase the profits of the billionaires.” Terreros spoke about the local example of Kingsley. “They do illegal terrible things to the residents all for profit and then count on the residents being too afraid to fight back due to their status. They have even threatened to call ICE on them! Shame!” Terreros finished with a call to action by saying, “We are an organization of fighters working shoulder to shoulder with the working class and have a real strategy to build a united front against these capitalists and you should join us in this fight!”

Gaby Hernandez from Chicanos Unidos stated, “We have worked heavily and led the campaign against gang injunctions. Gang injunctions create prisons in our communities without walls.” Hernandez added that “We started fighting against injunctions in 2006 and just a few months ago we were able to shut down injunctions here in Orange County!”

At the height of the rally, the large crowd started marching. The protesters stopped traffic, fully taking over the road, chanting “ICE out of OC!”, “Donald Trump, let’s be clear! Immigrants are welcome here!” and “Jail killer cops!” throughout downtown as the crowd filled the busy streets.

The crowd held up signs saying “No Ice! Stop the deportations,” “Workers Forever, CEOs never” and “Fight for workers' and immigrants’ rights” while passing cars gave honks of support.

While marching, David Pulido, a member of FRSO OC and a chant leader for the march, brought attention to the parking lot where 73-year-old Miguel Chavez was brutally arrested by the SAPD in 2022. “They shot him with less-lethal rounds and sicced a K-9 dog at him! He later died from his wounds!” This started powerful chants of “Justice for Miguel Chavez!” and “Jail killer cops!”

This OC May Day coalition was comprised of and included organizers from CSO OC, OC DSA, FRSO OC, UAW, Harbor Institute, El Centro Cultural de Mexico, Code Pink OC, OC Peace Coalition, CHIRLA, Orange County Banner Drop, OC Mutual Aid, Chicanos Unidos, Palestinian Youth Movement Orange County Environmental Justice, General Strike US, Nuestras Manos, Santa Ana Lucha, Santa Ana Active Streets, Save Orange Hills, Green Party of OC, Union de Barrio, VietRISE and Climate Action Campaign and.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OC #OrangeCounty #MayDay #InternationalWorkersDay #ImmigrantRights #Labor #CSOOC

Santa Ana, CA – On Tuesday, April 21, residents of Coach Royal mobile home park demanded Kingsley Management Corporation get out of their park. Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) joined them to demand the city council intervene against years of harassment, unjust evictions, home theft, and intimidation by the corporation. The abuse resulted in the suicide of resident Maria Pedraza, whose home was in the process of being taken after years of sacrificing to purchase it.

Karla Alvarado, one of the residents whose home was stolen, stated: “The city of Santa Ana has already met with 45 residents who can testify to this. 45 residents and counting. We have spoken to people across multiple parks. The stories are consistent, the tactics are consistent, and the outcomes as well. That is the definition of a systemic issue.”

Lupe Barragan, a resident and organizer, looked at and pointed directly at each council member as she spoke. “You need to respond! Phil Bacerra, you tried to intimidate us when we came to your office. You, Jonathan Hernandez, we need you to respond to us too. You came to support us and we need more of that. City manager, we need your help. Valerie Amezcua, I know my presence doesn’t please you, but you told us you were going to get out the big guns. We are waiting for you!” As she walked away, Mayor Amezcua laughed at her. Barragan turned around, pointed at Amezcua and scolded her for being disrespectful.

Sylvia Ayala, another resident, told the council, “I’ve lived here for 40 years and I’ve never gotten any help from you. Because you don’t care about the people; you only look out for yourselves. You work, but we have to work more than you. The humiliation that people with money have done to us is not fair.”

While the residents spoke, CSO OC and residents unfurled a banner reading “Kingsley fuera!” The camera began frequently changing angles to avoid showing the banner on screen. At one point, four Santa Ana Police Officers approached the organizers and told them they must move to the back if they are going to hold a banner, despite nobody complaining about an obstructed view.

When Rain Mendoza of CSO OC went up to make public comment, she first held up the banner and told the council to look at it and show it on camera.

Mendoza responded to the council’s frequent response that they cannot do anything because the park is private property, stating, “You sued El Centro Cultural de Mexico, a pillar in this community, so you can use your cops to toss homeless people’s belongings in the trash and push them out of a place where they were allowed to stay by the private property owners. So, you can do all that and use the courts, the police, and all your resources to terrorize a very vulnerable community, but you can’t lift a finger when there is a company that operates in Santa Ana that acts like thugs? Shame on you!”

Diana Terreros of CSO OC reminded the council that the residents of Coach Royal are mainly working-class immigrants whose homes are their refuge during the Trump administration. Terreros stated, “Kingsley’s actions go against the spirit of the entire sanctuary city ordinance. They are exploiting the fear of the immigrant population in Santa Ana. They are hoping the fear will be enough to force the residents to keep their heads down and their mouths shut. They are exploiting this community and their fear to increase their profits by stealing their homes. This is a multi-million dollar corporation from Utah. Why are we allowing them to exploit Santa Ana like this?”

Another member of CSO OC summarized the hundreds of thousands of dollars that groups representing mobile home park owners have donated against the campaign for the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance that was passed in October of 2021. They have also donated to council member’s campaigns. He asked council members, “Is this what’s influencing your frequent responses that there is nothing you can do to enforce what you know is unjust and illegal acts by Kingsley against the Coach Royal residents?”

#SantaAnaCA #CA #CSO #OC #OrangeCounty #PeoplesStruggles #CoachRoyal #Eviction #Featured

Santa Ana, CA – El 26 de febrero, 20 miembros de la comunidad marcharon a lo largo de Civic Center Drive para confrontar al Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD). Cantos como “¡Cárcel para los policías asesinos!” y ”¡La migra, la policía: la misma porquería!” resonaron por todo el vecindario, mientras los residentes hacían sonar sus bocinas en señal de solidaridad. Los asistentes portaban pancartas que exigían justicia para Noe Rodríguez, así como otras en referencia a víctimas recientes de la violencia policial.

Noe Rodríguez fue asesinado mientras se encontraba desarmado y en medio de una crisis de salud mental en diciembre de 2024. Las solicitudes de registros públicos realizadas por la Organización de Servicio Comunitario Condado de Orange (CSO OC) revelaron que los agentes de SAPD responsables de su muerte—Luis Casillas e Isaac Ibarra—continúan trabajando para SAPD y fueron movidos discretamente a otras unidades.

Jocelyn Pacheco, del Comité de Rendición de Cuentas Policial (PAC) de CSO, presentó los hechos del caso de Noe, afirmando: “Luis Casillas e Isaac Ibarra, los agentes responsables de su asesinato, continúan prestando servicio en el cuerpo policial, incluso después de haberle disparado 29 veces. ¿Cómo puede justificarse eso como defensa propia?”

Erika Armenta, viuda de Noe, alzó la voz contra los concejales que se oponen a la rendición de cuentas, afirmando: “Algunos representantes nos dicen que no podemos despedir a los agentes mientras se encuentran bajo investigación por un incidente, pero ¿quién puede garantizar que nuestras comunidades estén a salvo de la violencia repetida?”

Ambos agentes se han visto involucrados en otros casos de mala conducta y muertes desde que mataron a Noe Rodríguez, quien se encontraba desarmado. Casillas mató a tiros a Henry González Jr. el 1 de enero de 2025, quien también sufría de una enfermedad mental, incluido un comportamiento suicida.

Ibarra estuvo involucrado en el brutal arresto y la muerte bajo custodia de Freddy DeAngelo Washington el 16 de enero de 2025. Después, participó en la golpiza a Mario Díaz, un joven de 15 años, quien tuvo que ser trasladado a un hospital debido a sus heridas a pesar de haberse entregado a la policía; este hecho quedó documentado en un video fechado el 9 de junio de 2025.

Menos de dos semanas antes de la protesta, miembros de CSO OC—incluidas las dos hijas pequeñas de Noe Rodríguez—fueron abordados por el oficial Isaac Ibarra mientras ofrecían una conferencia de prensa frente al departamento.

Matthew Compton, de CSO, comentó: “Cuando empezamos a filmar a Ibarra y lo confrontamos con sus crímenes, mintió y dijo que lo habíamos amenazado y agredido. La verdad es que intentó repetidamente provocarnos para que peleáramos con él.”

David Pulido, miembro de la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad (OSCL), habló en español sobre cómo el largo patrón de asesinatos policiales de chicanos constituye un rasgo de la opresión nacional, y afirmó: “Necesitamos una revolución para establecer el poder político de la clase trabajadora y liberar a naciones oprimidas como Aztlán. ¡Esa es la solución a estos asesinatos policiales racistas!”

La marcha fue encabezada por la familia de Noe Rodríguez y CSO OC, y contó con el apoyo de Chicanxs Unidxs (CU) y los Socialistas Democráticos de América (DSA). También acudieron observadores legales del Peace and Justice Law Center (PJLC) en solidaridad con la comunidad.

CSO OC lucha por la autodeterminación chicana, el control comunitario de la policía y la legalización para todos los inmigrantes indocumentados. Tienen reuniones generales cada tercer jueves en Santa Ana, y se les puede contactar en Instagram @cso.oc y en Facebook, Orange County CSO.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #CSO #CSOOC #OC #OrangeCounty #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities

Costa Mesa, CA – On Saturday, May 31, chants of “Free, free Palestine!” were heard as about 50 protesters gathered on the corner of Sunflower and Bristol in Costa Mesa. The protest was across from South Coast Plaza, which is a luxury shopping center filled with high-end stores that rakes in $2 billion per year.

Emcee Amy Parker of the Orange County Democratic Socialists of America (OC DSA) reminded the crowd that the plaza is owned by the Zionist Sergerstrom family. The family has also donated at least $40 million to the Sergerstrom Center of the Arts which was also protested earlier this year for hosting the Israel Philharmonic.

Abe Quintana of Freedom Road Socialist Organization Orange County (FRSO OC) spoke about the death toll in Palestine rising “to ever higher numbers while food and medical supplies are not allowed to enter the occupation zones. Shame!” Quintana said this is made possible by U.S. capitalists. He called people to action stating, “we must be building and waging our own struggle at home to end US aid to Israel! We live in the belly of the beast and it's our responsibility to fight U.S. imperialism from home!”

Protesters then marched throughout the intersection with chants like “Netanyahu you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” Protesters held up signs to the cars waiting at the light with messages of “Stand with Palestine! End the occupation now!” and “Victory to the Palestinian resistance!” Many cars driving by honked in support.

Chris Ahmed of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) encouraged the crowd to keep fighting for Palestine, stating, “Remember this: try! Stand up for the people of Palestine! Have your voice heard! Convince your friends, convince your families, convince your coworkers and one by one our ranks will grow, their ranks will shrink! Free, free Palestine!”

David Pulido of Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC), stated, “The enemy of Palestine is the same enemy as ours. Just like Chicanos in the late 60s identified with the Vietnamese resistance to the U.S. empire, today we identify with the Palestinian resistance to brutal Israeli occupation, sponsored and supported by our government.” Pulido added, “just like how Vietnam delivered a crushing blow to U.S. imperialism, I am confident that Palestine will win!”

The protest was primarily organized by OC DSA and was endorsed by CSO OC, FRSO OC, JVP, International League of People’s Struggle, and many more.

#CostaMesaCA #CA #OC #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #FRSO #DSA #CSOOC