Portland, OR – On February 18, immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD) held a rally at city hall to demand city council take immediate action to revoke the permit for the Portland ICE facility. The event turned into a violent suppression of protest by the Portland Police Bureau, with multiple arrests.

The night began with high tensions as local right-wingers antagonized protesters at the rally by yelling “I love ICE” in megaphones and the unprovoked pepper spraying of five activists. At the same time, city hall security came out and told Cole Dunahugh, a regular protester at city hall, that he was “trespassed” from the building and not allowed to enter. When documentation was requested, it was not provided. The right-wingers who assaulted protesters were allowed to enter city hall.

Activists were not deterred, continued chanting and refused to allow the reactionaries to silence their message.

After the rally, protesters entered the chambers and provided compelling testimony demanding the council take action to shut down the ICE facility and called out the councilors’ hypocrisy.

“The fact that some of you have the audacity to ride the wave of ‘Abolish ICE’ while you unironically have argued and defended keeping the Macadam ICE facility open for the sake of immigrants might be the worst of your offenses,” said Elijah Thahir, referencing many of the councilors’ claims that the facility must be kept open to “serve” immigrants.

The city administrator was asked to give an update on the ICE facility, which has been issued a violation for holding detainees past a 12-hour limit. The enforcement process was stalled for five months while the city granted the landlord multiple extensions on an appeal. Only recently did the city deny the landlord’s appeal, after PDXCD protested at the mayor’s house and at the office of permitting and development.

As the city administrator gave excuses for the inaction of the city, those in the chambers chanted, “Revoke the permit.”

Susan Anglada-Bartley, the original creator of the petition to revoke the permit, walked up to the desks of the councilors with a printout of all 19,000 signatures on a petition to revoke the permit. She was placed in a chokehold by security and physically assaulted.

At this point, City Council President Jamie Dunphy immediately shut down the meeting, ordered security to remove protesters, and all the councilors left the room to reconvene the meeting online.

Protesters continued to stay in the chambers, chanting for around 30 minutes. At this point around 30 police officers entered city hall and arrested Anglada-Bartley. The rest of the protesters linked arms and refused to move, and were violently pushed down a flight of stairs out of city hall by the police. Madison Delsanter and Henry Roloff were arrested for “trespassing,” despite being confined in a space they could not leave by police.

On the other side of the building, Cole Dunahugh was also arrested for “trespassing” despite the fact he was never allowed to enter the building.

Protesters immediately moved the protest from city hall to the nearby jail and held a rally to demand the release of the four detained activists. Three of the activists were released the same night, and one the next day. All face charges.

Rather than apologize for their use of force to suppress the free speech of Portlanders, city council members and the Portland Police Bureau doubled down the next day.

Councilor Loretta Smith posted on her Facebook calling the protest a “mini insurrection” and told press she is drafting legislation to allow councilors to open carry in meetings with the public, implying she would shoot immigrant rights protesters.

The Portland police held a press conference to justify their use of force where Police Chief Bob Day stated he sent “nearly every available officer” working in the city at the time to attack the protesters. He attempted to blame protesters for this egregious attempt to silence First Amendment rights by stating this was a “drain on the city's resources.”

“Why is Bob Day blaming his irresponsible act of over-policing and violence on protesters?” questioned Kacey DeSantis, “It was completely unnecessary for him to send any police officers to prevent the city council from hearing from its constituents. He should be ashamed.”

PDXCD will hold a press conference and protest on February 20, before the arraignments of Dunahugh, Anglada Bartley and Madison Delsanter. They demand that all the charges are dropped, that the city of Portland stop criminalizing free speech, and take action to shut down the ICE facility.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #PDXCD #PoliceBrutality #Featured

Anaheim, CA – On December 22, the Anaheim Police Department (APD) released body-worn camera footage from the police killing of Albert Arzola. Rather than providing clarity, the footage has intensified community outrage and reinforced long-standing concerns about APD’s narrative, use of force, and lack of transparency.

The video does not clearly show Arzola pointing or firing a weapon. At no point in the footage is a gun seen in Arzola’s hands prior to officers opening fire. This directly contradicts APD’s repeated claims that Arzola “produced a gun,” a phrase officials have relied on to justify the killing since the incident.

In the footage, APD officers approached Arzola in an unmarked vehicle with no sirens and were not immediately identifiable as police. The officers charged out of the car and chased Arzola as he ran toward his home. Within seconds, the shooting officer grabbed Arzola by the hoodie, pulled him down, and opened fire.

The video shows no sign that officers tried to de-escalate the situation before using lethal force. The lack of audio caused by the camera’s buffering period makes it impossible to tell what commands – if any – were given, and whether Arzola had time or ability to comply.

The body camera footage also corroborates community accounts regarding 18-year-old Emmanuel Cordova, who was also present near the scene. Video shows Cordova exiting the house with his hands raised and his back partially turned when he is struck by a less-lethal round. This directly challenges APD’s claim that Cordova was behaving threateningly. Cordova was later hospitalized for injuries from the encounter.

CSO OC and community members are calling for the immediate release of the full, body camera footage, the names of the officers involved, and an independent investigation into the killing. They argue that APD’s limited release of information has only raised further questions and deepened public mistrust.

As anger continues to grow in Anaheim, community members remain firm in their demands. The release of the body-camera footage has not brought closure. Instead, it has highlighted inconsistencies in APD’s account and strengthened calls for accountability, transparency, and an end to what residents describe as a pattern of violent policing in their neighborhoods, especially on young Chicanos.

#AnaheimCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #PoliceBrutality #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #CSOOC #Feature

City of Industry, CA – On Saturday, December 13, the family of Joseph Perez, Centro CSO, and other allies rallied outside the Industry Sheriff’s Station to demand justice for Perez, who narrowly survived a beating by at least five sheriff’s deputies on July 27, 2020. Perez required 17 staples and 19 sutures to close cuts across his face and scalp, served two years in prison for resisting arrest, and is still recovering from the trauma.

Vanessa Perez, mother of Joseph Perez, opened her speech by highlighting how sheriffs, through their “union” ALADS, have obstructed transparency, oversight and accountability. Perez said, “I am urging the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department alongside the Board of Supervisors to take proactive steps. AB 847 must be implemented without delay. Our community has waited long enough for meaningful change.” AB 847 allows oversight commissions and inspector general offices access to misconduct files.

Perez also connected her son’s beating to a 2023 Montclair bowling incident, in which members of the Industry Indians, a confirmed deputy gang, picked a fight with teenagers. While four officers were fired for the incident, Perez pointed out that her son’s trauma as well as this brawl would have been prevented if LASD allowed transparency and oversight.

Gabriel Quiroz Jr, a co-chair of CSO’s Police Accountability Committee and the rally’s emcee, brought to the crowd’s attention that this protest was likely the first ever at the Industry Sheriff’s station. He led the crowd with chants of “Justice for Joseph!” “Ban Deputy Gangs” and “La policía, la migra, la misma porquería!”

In his speech, Quiroz Jr. said, “I want to uplift the demand of community control of police to be able to once and for give power to the people when it comes to who polices their neighborhoods. We’re here to demand justice for Joseph Perez, a young Chicano who was brutally beaten by City of Industry Sheriffs; some of those same pigs even self-admitted to being tattooed deputy gang members. They should be the only ones facing ‘gang enhancement charges’ and be prosecuted and put in jail!”

Helen Jones, mother of John Horton (killed by LASD at Men’s Central Jail in 2009); Stephanie Vargas, aunt of Anthony Daniel Vargas (killed by ELASD in 2018); Minerva Garcia, friend of Vanessa Marquez (killed by South Pasadena PD in 2018); family of Elisa Serna (who died in police custody in San Diego in 2019, and Sergio Flores, brother of Jeremy Flores (killed by LAPD in 2025) also spoke out against deputy gangs and in solidarity with the family of Joseph Perez.

Carlos Montes, a leader within Centro CSO and Freedom Road Socialist Organization as well as a founder of the Brown Berets, said, “We believe that it is a systemic problem, the police killings of Black and Chicano young men. It’s not a question of bad police or just deputy gangs. For Chicanos after the Mexican-American War, we continued to have mass murders and lynchings at the Placita Olvera. This is a systemic problem that will not go away until we have a new government in the United States.” Montes attended the first protest at the East LA Sheriff’s Station in the late 1960s.

Protesters marched from the sheriff’s station to Hacienda Boulevard where they rallied once again. Many community members honked in solidarity. Motor police who had stopped to engage with protesters left after being drowned out by chants.

At the corner rally, protesters heard from Gilbert Bao, a formerly incarcerated Brown Beret whose brother was murdered by sheriffs. He spoke about how the state uses gang enhancements to lock up African American and Chicano youth while deputy gangs are the true threat.

Verita Topete, speaking on behalf of Centro CSO’s Immigration Committee, tied Perez’s beating to the recent ICE raids that are terrorizing Chicano neighborhoods, stating, “The struggle for legalization for all is inseparable from the struggle for community control of the police. These are not two fights, they are one.”

Centro CSO’s plans to continue fighting for Joseph Perez and other victims of police crimes in Los Angeles. If you would like to become involved with Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee (PAC), you can send a message on their social media platforms @CentroCSO or email them at CentroCSO@gmail.com

#CityOfIndustryCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #CentroCSO #KillerCops #PoliceBrutality #Feature

Colorado Springs, CO – On December 11, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered outside of the 4th Judicial District attorney’s office to demand justice for Alex-Martinez Sarmiento.

The main demand was that District Attorney Michael Allen indict Officer Connor Jacob Wallick. Over a dozen COSAARPR and community members arrived outside the DA’s office in solidarity for Martinez-Sarmiento, picketing outside the main door. The indictment demand, and the demand for more transparency for Martinez-Sarmiento’s family, were spoken loud and clear by participating community members.

Justin Barraza, a COSAARPR member, called to question the lack of community trust in Colorado Springs PD. In his speech, Barraza quoted Officer Wallick, “‘I didn't want to reach for my taser because my gun was already out, and tasers don't work.’ Is that the level of community trust we should expect from our police force?”

The loss of Martinez-Sarmiento is felt by his family, friends and members of the community. As members shared with passersby flyers calling for justice for Martinez-Sarmiento, the crowd expressed that running away should not be a death sentence, chanting, “Running away! Don't shoot!” and “Indict Wallick now!”

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #COSAARPR #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops

Colorado Springs, CO – On Dec 7, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) joined the family of Richard Arford for a candlelight vigil outside of the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) headquarters to demand transparency and insight into the ongoing investigation of Richard Arford’s death.

Chants of “Justice for Richard” rang out as the family and community gathered at sunset.

Richard Arford was a 31-year-old gay Chicano man who, in September, was found stripped naked, bruised and unconscious, in an abandoned building on fire near the Platte Avenue and Academy Boulevard intersection in Colorado Springs. The circumstances surrounding Richard’s death are unusual and it has left the family to believe that Richard was attacked.

“Richard had so much ahead of him, he had things to look forward to,” Olivia Bower, Richard’s mother, said in an interview with local news networks, “He wouldn’t do this to himself.”

While CSPD is investigating this case, Bower states CSPD has only spoken to the family over the phone, and they are challenging the lack of communication and oversight in this investigation. The family and community are putting pressure on CSPD to investigate Arford’s death as a homicide; meanwhile, CSPD has stated they aren’t investigating it as a suicide or as a homicide, but, rather, just as a “death.”

During the vigil, Bower spoke to the crowd, “The person that Richard was, he really was the light of my life. He brought joy to our family – I just hope and pray we get answers. I love you, Richard.”

Other community members spoke to demand justice and affirm commitment to fight for it. “As a mother of three, this one hits hard. It hits hard because the only piece of him she had for Thanksgiving was when she was finally given his death certificate,” said Sarah Katzin, an organizer with COSAARPR.

Another organizer, Bug Peterson, said “When people lose their loved ones in devastating ways they shouldn’t have to fight the police for transparency, information and action. We need community control of the police.”

Also endorsing the action in support of Arford’s family were Colorado Indigenous Brown Berets and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #COSAARPR

Colorado Springs, CO – On November 22 the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) joined together with the family of Alex Martinez-Sarmiento. They gathered outside the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Colorado Springs to rally for the 26-year-old father who was shot and killed by police earlier in the year.

The family and COSAARPR demanded that District Attorney Michael Allen meet with the victim's family and move to indict killer cop Connor Jacob Wallick.

Alex Martinez-Sarmiento was shot and killed on July 5, in downtown Colorado Springs outside of a nightclub. Colorado Springs Police Department officer Connor Jacob Wallick approached Martinez-Sarmiento at approximately 1 a.m. holding his firearm sideways after an argument was reported to have taken place. Martinez-Sarmiento can be seen in bodycam footage throwing his hands up before turning around and fleeing out of fear for his life.

Wallick proceeded to shoot Martinez-Sarmiento three times in the back before making an arrest on his dead body. Police claim that Martinez-Sarmiento was reaching for a firearm as he was pulling up his pants. However, bodycam footage shows police having to physically rip and cut open his pants to retrieve his firearm. The video shows the gun was not in a place where he could have drawn it.

”We always hear the police say how they feared for their life, but the only person who drew a gun and shot someone was Connor Jacob Wallick. I’d say that Alex feared for his life more,” said Jessie Proffitt, an organizer with COSAARPR.

“District Attorney Michael Allen can easily work towards the path of justice, healing and restoring community trust in our legal system by meeting with the family and holding this officer accountabl,.” said Proffitt.

“He wasn’t just my brother, he was my reminder that love can be fierce, gentle and unforgettable at once,” said Saray Rocha, Alex Martinez-Sarmiento’s older sister, in a press statement.

The police murder of Martinez-Sarmiento has left an unfillable hole in the hearts of his family. Faces of grief and sorrow filled the crowd and chants of “Running away, don’t shoot!” rang in the ears of everyone who could hear the group.

The crowd also chanted, “Indict, convict! We will not stop! We will not quit!” and “Indict Wallick now!”

Presently, Wallick is back on duty with the Colorado Springs Police Department.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #PoliceBrutality #COSAARPR #NAARPR #Feature

Washington, DC: On November 21, over 200 community members gathered outside the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Headquarters for a rally and vigil in the wake of a wave of police terror last weekend by federal and local police forces in DC.

The social media messaging for the event from the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) and other sponsoring organizations stated that federal and local police “went on a rampage, killing three Black men and nearly killing another.”

The vigil began with a prayer and a moment of silence for victims of police crimes. Afterwards, Merawi Gerima from DCAARPR took the stage to lead the crowd in chants of “No justice, no peace!” and “When Black people are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” before speaking on the recent spree of violence by police in DC.

“MPD has been an occupying, terrorizing force in DC before this,” said Gerima, “at the same time, now the feds are coming in and helping MPD to deport and terrorize Black and brown people in DC!”

During the rally portion of the event, some of the community members gathered held up pictures of victims of police crimes, while others wrote their names on a canvas banner on the street. Still more wrote slogans of “Stop police crimes!” and “Free DC!” with chalk in front of the police station.

“Take a look around the crowd at the photos that you see, and remember why we’re here,” said Frankie Seabon from Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, “We’re here because we have a rallying cry; since 2001, local police have killed almost a hundred people!”

“The oppression that Black people face, the oppression that working people face, all has an economic basis,” said Kristen Bonner of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization DC (FRSO DC), “There are people that are profiting off of our misery and our pain, and, in fact, they do it so they can profit more! “

Speaking on the wrongful murder of her son by park police two years ago, Terra Martin of DCAARPR said, “I heard [criticisms] about my son, I heard that he shouldn’t have been in a stolen car, I heard I shouldn’t have put him out, I heard he shouldn’t have had a gun – but he didn’t have a gun.” connecting it to other families of victims at the protest, she said, “so you’re going to hear these things. But the strength is the memories you have with your loved one.”

Nadia Salazar of Movimiento Migrante DC told the crowd “There is a deep, deep, deep connection in the way [police] target migrant communities and Black communities in this country.”

After the rally, community members prepared for the vigil by forming into a line with faces of police crimes victims, capstoned by the banner which had been decorated with the names of victims in DC. The chant leader called out each victim with the chant, “Say their name!” to which the crowd responded with the name. The vigil created a visual display of solidarity within the community members and activists gathered, as they lined the street from MPD headquarters to the DC Superior Courthouse two blocks away.

“As has been said before, the only thing we got at the end of the day is our numbers,” said Merawi Gerima, “that’s why we have to come out here, shout these criminal actions down, demand accountability together, build our organizations, and bring them together!”

#WashingtonDC #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #PoliceBrutality #DCAARPR

Washington, D.C. — A group of 20 community organizers and activists gathered outside the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sixth District station on Saturday, November 8, to demand transparency from the city’s officials – including Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chief of Police Pam Smith – around the October 17 cover-up, where an HSI agent shot into the car of an unarmed Black man. The Metropolitan Police (MPD) then lied about it on the police report. The action was organized by the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR).

The protest began with chants of “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA!” and “Hey hey! Ho ho! These racist cops have got to go!” as the crowd gathered at the steps of the station. Next, Merawi Gerima of DCAARPR took to the stage to call out MPD’s complicity in the cover-up and connect it directly to Mayor Bowser’s continuing capitulation to Trump.

“This MPD cover-up can only happen in the type of vicious, oppressive, police-repression environment that Mayor Bowser has created through her policies of collaboration with federal agencies,” said Gerima, “and it all goes back to her collaboration with Trump.”

Gerima also connected the cover-up with his own experiences of political repression, citing an event that occurred last weekend when he, along with three other protesters, were wrongfully arrested for exercising their First Amendment rights while protesting the racist curfew zones in DC.

“It’s no coincidence that the same people arrested in Navy Yard last week were the same people who broke that shit wide open at the press conference [on the MPD cover-up] the week before,” said Gerima, “I was told then by a reporter that when a group of officers saw me, they pointed to me and said, ‘that’s the same person from the press conference.’”

Paige White, the legal defense for the victim of the cover-up event, spoke next about the specifics of the incident and highlighted how dangerous the situation truly was. “One of the bullets went through my client’s collar of his jacket, meaning that he was literal millimeters from death,” said White, “This case demonstrates how dangerous this collaboration is, and how it has severe real-life consequences!”

While MPD and the officers involved were a target of the protesters, speakers also called out Mayor Bowser for her role. A member of the DC Against the Trump Agenda (DCATA) also spoke at the rally stated, “Mayor Bowser helped make sure that federal troops could stay in DC, Mayor Bowser helped federalize MPD, to embolden them. And so Mayor Bowser is looking at her last term as mayor. Because the people know she is complicit in carrying out these attacks on the people of DC!”

This was followed by chants of “Bowser, Bowser, you’re a traitor! This term is your last as mayor!” and “Fight like Brandon [Johnson], fight like Zohran! Not like Bowser, she’s a moron!”

The rally was closed out with continued calls to action, citing this as a crucial first step in launching a campaign against the city and its government, and vowing to bring them to justice through a fight for community control of the police.

“It is up to us to protect our community and to protect ourselves,” said Kristen Bonner of DCAARPR, “the mayor is not gonna do it, MPD is not gonna do it, Pam Smith is not gonna do it – so this is a call to action for everyone to get involved!”

“We will hold you accountable to the things you do, we will hold you accountable for the things you don’t do when we need you, we will hold you accountable for all the things in between,” said Gerima, “When you cover up for killer federal officers, you will be held accountable – so you can smile now, you can sit in your car and scroll on your phone while we’re out here demanding justice, but one day, we will have power to hold you accountable, and we’re coming for all of that!”

#WashingtonDC #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #DCAARPR #DCATA

Los Angeles, CA – On November 1, after the Los Angeles Dodgers’ winning Game Seven of the World Series, thousands of Chicanos took to the streets of their city to celebrate. The celebrations were met with extreme force by the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol.

In East Los Angeles, seven Centro CSO members took to the streets, where they monitored police activity, documenting and calling out the crimes committed by the police.

Centro CSO and FRSO – LA members documented the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department as they shot tear gas indiscriminately at Chicano families. They agitated against the deputies by calling out their crimes as they happened. Raza was furious and called out the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department for shooting pepper balls at children. Pepper balls are like paintballs but release tear gas on impact. The crowd also called out local KTLA media who were on scene. A fire was started by an incendiary grenade thrown recklessly by sheriff's deputies.

Gabriel Quiroz Jr, a co-chair of Centro CSO’s police accountability committee and a member of FRSO, said, “We were here last year and got teargassed by these same pigs and we built a campaign to hold them accountable. We have made wins, but more is needed to hold these pigs accountable. We need community control of the police! We need and will win community control of the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department!”

Antoinetta Garcia, a local mother from East Los Angeles and a leading member of Centro CSO, said, “I just wanted to say that this pig threw tear gas in our community, and the smell went inside our house because we had the windows open. Our East LA community is always being oppressed and poisoning our community. We have homes where children have asthma and chronic lung disease and respiratory issues. Let's hold these pigs accountable!”

Sammy Carrera, a proud Chicano, Teamster, and CSO member who participated in the event, said, “LASD cannot control its urge to brutalize innocent families and children. They are an occupying violent force whose sole purpose is to destroy and repress.”

Jordan Peña, co-chair of CSO’s immigration committee said, “I stood on the sidewalk with about ten individuals. People peacefully celebrating, waving flags, taking pictures. Then an officer came up to me and told me I could be arrested. This was as other officers were shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd a few blocks away in another direction. We could all see it going down. I don’t think they liked us recording.”

During their repression of the celebrations, the members of the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department wore Fort Apache pins on their shirts. The racist logo traces its history back to the 1970 Chicano Moratorium when the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department attacked Raza who were protesting the Vietnam War and unjust conditions Chicanos faced.

Centro CSO has an active campaign to ban the logo and has picked up wins like packing an East Los Angeles Townhall put on by LASD’s Civilian Oversight Commission. After the town hall, the C.O.C. voted unanimously to ban the logo but the East Los Angeles Sheriffs have failed to comply thus far.

Centro CSO’s plans are to continue pushing the campaign to win community control of the police. If you would like to become involved with Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee (PAC), you can send a message on their social media platforms @CentroCSO or email them at CentroCSO@gmail.com

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #Sports #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA – On November 1, Centro CSO participated in the building of a community ofrenda (altar) at the Self Help Graphics’ 52nd annual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration in East Los Angeles. CSO’s altar honored the memories of community activists, victims of police brutality, and immigrants who have died while in ICE custody.

The altar was created as part of the Legalization for All (L4A) weekend of action, which aimed to show attendees across the country the continued reality of the oppression immigrants face. Onlookers stopped by to pay respect and draw insight into some of the lives ICE has claimed.

Marisol Marquez of Centro CSO stated, “ICE raids are modern-day terrorism for our people. Chicanos, Mexicanos, and Centroamericanos all fear being stopped on the way to school, dropping off our kids, or going trick-or-treating. The L4A weekend of action made sure to uplift the names of those who have died or been killed by ICE. Enough is enough! CSO will continue fighting for legalization for all and an end to deportations and ICE raids.”

The altar contained signs that read “ICE out of LA,” a demand advanced by community members in Los Angeles since Trump’s return to power. ICE has claimed 22 lives since Trump took office, with this number potentially being greater. A recent victim of the ICE terror was Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, who was struck by oncoming traffic on a freeway in Monrovia, California. Valdez was fleeing an ICE raid at a Home Depot, which resulted in his death.

Centro CSO’s altar also incorporated victims of police crimes and the family of Jeremy Flores assisted in building the altar. Flores, a 26-year-old Chicano, was murdered earlier this year by the LAPD. His photo stood alongside other victims of police brutality, whose families Centro CSO has organized alongside over the years.

Verita Topete of Centro CSO stated, “The Dia de los Muertos altar reminded us that our ancestors and loved ones are still with us. In every act of resistance, in every moment of love, and in every fight for our community's future.”

If you would like to become involved with Centro CSO, you can send a message on their social media platforms @CentroCSO or email them at CentroCSO@gmail.com.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #L4A #ICE

Los Angeles, CA – On October 22, 200 took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles for a protest against police brutality.

Melissa Miramontes is from United Families for Justice. Miramontes is a family member of Hugo Cachua, an Amazon driver who was killed this year by Ontario Police. She stated, “But this reality is every day for us impacted families. Every day that killer cops are allowed to be free is another day our families’ heartbeats are weakened more and more. Bless all stolen lives, may this evil system crumble and be weakened by our strength and may we hold on and never lose hope.”

The spirited rally and march was organized and attended by a broad coalition of organizations and impacted families on the ground fighting back against police crimes, including Centro CSO, LAPD Spying Coalition, United Families for Justice, BLM LA Grassroots, and many others.

Hamid Khan of Stop LAPD Spying Coalition opened the rally, saying, “This year LAPD has shot 31 people. We're marching for a reason. Somebody is getting shot, someone is getting harassed, someone is saying they ‘can’t breathe!’”

Derek Mejia, co-chair of Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee said, “I am here advocating for community control of the police. Just this past weekend we were reminded of why it is crucial that we adopt community control, not just on the Eastside, but all throughout Los Angeles. This weekend, we saw once again footage of LAPD not only collaborating with ICE, but beating protesters who were rightfully angry at police compliance with the federal siege on our city.”

Gabriel Quiroz Jr of Freedom Road Socialist Organization Los Angeles stated, “It’s very important for us to be out here and march alongside our allies and impacted families in a broad coalition not only against LAPD and ICE but also against Trump's racist right-wing agenda.”

The rally made multiple stops including central division and then ended at LAPD headquarters, where cops were mobilizing in riot gear, but were kept at bay by the large crowd of anti-police brutality protesters.

Plans for the Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee is to get justice for Jeremy Anthony Flores. Flores is a young Chicano who on July 14, was shot and tear-gassed by LAPD SWAT after the LAPD had already taken his life. They are circulating a petition to demand transparency, accountability and for the cops who killed Flores to be jailed. Please sign and share: tinyurl.com/JusticeForJeremyFlores

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality

Oakland CA – On August 19, community members, families impacted by police violence, and anti-police violence organizations gathered at the office of Attorney General of California Rob Bonta to demand an end to racist police killings.

The rally was part of a statewide action led by Terry Lovett, mother of Jalani Lovett who was killed in the Los Angeles Men's Central Jail in 2021. The Oakland Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (OAARPR) helped organize the action, supported by local unions including the ILWU Local 10 and ATU Local 1555. Similar rallies occurred at his offices in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Jalani Lovett was alleged to have died of a drug overdose in solitary confinement, but his family believe otherwise. His body showed clear signs of physical trauma, and he was found dead in solitary confinement in a jail run by the notorious 3000 Boys, part of the LA sheriff's deputy gangs. Attorney General Bonta, who ran on a campaign of police accountability, has refused to meet with Terry Lovett and discuss the evidence surrounding her son's death. She has been pushing for four years demanding answers, but he has refused to take action on her case.

“33 people have died in LA jails in 34 weeks, how is this possible? Just because someone is incarcerated doesn't mean they give up their right to life!” Terry Lovett said, addressing the crowd gathered in front of the building, who held signs with slogans reading “Community control of the police now!” and “Jail killer cops!”

After the speaker program ended, Lovett and OAARPR members went inside the building to deliver a scroll with over 1200 signatures to Bonta’s office, which showed signs of being vacated abruptly to avoid confrontation with protesters. They demanded he meet with Lovett and look at the evidence that she has collected surrounding the death of her son. The same scroll was delivered to all six of his offices in LA, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento and San Francisco.

Morale was high at the event, with Lovett stating, “He can't look the other way now, not after we show up at every one of his offices.”

Oakland is continuing to fight back and build the movement against police terror.

#OaklandCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #OAARPR #ILWU10 #ATU1555 #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #Feature

Aurora, CO – On August 16, the Denver Aurora Community Action Committee (DACAC) and community supporters gathered at Firehouse Station 2 for an all-ages community fair. The event called “FUNd the Fight,” raised funds for the Dillard family, who has been facing financial hardship while simultaneously fighting for justice for Kory Dillard.

Members from local organizations like Denver Alliance for Street Health Response (DASHR) and Denver Freedom Road Socialist Organization showed up to support the Dillard family’s fight.

To those who knew him, Kory Dillard was a father, a friend, and a drone enthusiast. Ryan Stitzel, chair of DACAC, said, “This family, they've lost a breadwinner. They're suffering some of the most unimaginable horrors that they can suffer as a family, and all because of the Aurora Police Department.”

On October 3, 2024, Kory Dillard was shot and killed by APD after an unverified 911 call reported a “violent carjacking.” Video obtained by DACAC shows Dillard defending himself from a shirtless assailant that followed him home and attempted to hit him on the head with a large rock.

Later in the video Dillard can be seen having retrieved an airsoft rifle to brandish and scare the assailant away. Aurora police officers Kevin Rhodier and Ryan Shamblin then arrive on scene, exit their vehicle, and in just seven and a half seconds shoot and kill Kory Dillard.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain claims that the airsoft rifle “looks exactly the same as an authentic AR-15.” While the APD believes this justifies Dillard’s death, there are inconsistencies with the bodycam footage and 911 call which tells a different story. Meanwhile, the original 911 caller that brought police to the scene was in fact the assailant himself.

Kory Dillard’s right to self-defense, a fair trial and his right to bear arms under the Second Amendment were all violated the moment that two white APD officers made the decision to end Dillard’s life.

Almost 11 months later, Dillard’s family is still reeling and working with community support to continue the fight. A fundraiser by the DACAC’s “FUNd the Fight” brought the community together for an afternoon of poetry, music, and activities. Activities included carnival games for prizes, temporary tattoos, water guns, a bake sale, and a piñata with 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason’s face on it.

Mason has recently disclosed to the Dillard family his intention of letting the cops who killed Kory off the hook, having only answered the officers’ actions with paid leave so far. DA Mason has the power to charge APD officers for their crimes but has not done so.

Miles Thompson, a member of DACAC, said, “I was brought to tears earlier in the day during the poetry section of the event.” He continued, “I was brought to tears because not only did I see myself in each person that was mentioned, but I saw centuries of the fight for Black liberation personified. Kory Dillard, like the others, did not ask to be martyred. We should choose to remember them not just in their final moments before death, but the years of life that they shared touching the lives of others in their families, friend circles and communities.”

In a time of struggle, there was plenty of fun to go around. DACAC was able to raise almost $800 for the Dillard family, with the hope of raising more in the coming months. Jeff McFarland, another DACAC member, said of the event, “I think it was a great testament to everyone's creativity and tenacity, and I really think it demonstrated what we're capable of as a group.”

The fight for one is a fight for all, and DACAC will not stop its fight until there is justice for Kory Dillard and all other victims of police violence. To support the Dillard family, readers are encouraged to visit DACAC.net and donate to the Dillard family’s fight or consider becoming a monthly supporter of DACAC’s work.

#AuroraCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #DACAC #NAARPR

Jacksonville, FL – Over 100 community members gathered at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park, August 9, to demand justice for William McNeil Jr.

McNeil was brutally beaten by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officer after a traffic stop in February 2025. The officer shattered McNeil’s car window, forcibly removed him from the vehicle, and assaulted him. The protest, organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC) in collaboration with McNeil’s family, amplified calls for accountability.

Xavier Green of the JCAC told the crowd, “Jacksonville police do not serve and protect – they occupy and terrorize. They carry out the same mission as the overseer’s whip: control by any means necessary, in defense of white supremacy.”

Attendees chanted “Justice for Will!” between speeches from family members and organizers. McNeil’s family praised his character and shared how traumatic the experience has been for him.

Despite pressure from the community, including a coalition letter signed by multiple organizations, the state attorney’s office has yet to reopen the investigation.

Jamil Davis linked the struggle to liberation theology, calling this injustice a “table-flipping moment” for the community. “Just as Jesus flipped the commerce tables,” he said, “what’s being sparked now is a revolutionary moment.”

The JCAC remains committed to fighting alongside Will and his family for justice. They are also continuing their campaign for a Public Safety Committee, which would help hold violent officers accountable.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #JCAC #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality

Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Community Action Committee, the Families of William McNeil Jr and Charles Faggart, along with dozens of other community members gathered at the steps of State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office Saturday, August 2. The emergency rally was in response to the viral video showing the brutalization of William McNeil Jr. during a traffic stop. They demanded the reopening of the investigation into McNeil’s case, and justice for all victims of police terror.

McNeil Jr. was pulled over on February 19, for the minor traffic violations of not having his headlights on in inclement weather and not wearing a seatbelt. This “routine” traffic stop was escalated by Officer Bowers when he broke McNeil’s window and punched him in the jaw. One of the speakers at the event, McNeil’s uncle, said, “I have been an activist for a long time. I never thought I would be standing up here fighting for the rights of my nephew.”

When protesters first arrived at the state attorney’s office they were met with heavy police presence. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had about six officers and squad cars blocking off the block and several other surrounding areas. They had several officers monitoring in the parking garage across the street as well as about ten officers circling the area on bicycles throughout the rally.

Sierra Jones Frishman of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee said during the rally, “We don’t need the police to keep us safe, we keep us safe.” There were speakers from organizations across the city all chanting the same thing, “No justice! No peace! No racist police!”

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee with support from the family sent an open letter signed by over ten community organizations to Melissa Nelson’s office, including Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Florida For All, and Black Voters Matter.

The McNeil family, with support from the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, will be having a rally for William on Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m., at Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing Park

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #JCAC

Los Angeles, CA – On August 2, Centro CSO and the family of Jeremy Flores gathered at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights to demand justice for the 26-year-old Chicano man, who was killed by officers from the LAPD Hollenbeck Division on July 14.

The protest began with a march to the Hollenbeck police station and ended with a rally at Mariachi Plaza and a fundraiser to support the family.

The protesters included the Flores family and their loved ones, Centro CSO organizers, and dozens of residents who turned out in unity and solidarity. Carrying signs that read “Justice for Jeremy Flores” and “Jail killer cops,” the marchers moved down 1st Street chanting and demanding accountability for Jeremy’s death. Family and supporters chanted “Release the names!” and “Release the footage,” highlighting their demand for justice and accountability.

In front of the Hollenbeck station, an LAPD supporter emerged and assaulted protesters and grieving family members using a fire extinguisher. Despite the attack, the protest continued with fierce determination. Protesters continued the demonstration and then marched back to Mariachi Plaza where a lineup of speakers addressed the crowd. Speakers included the family and friends of Jeremy Flores and representatives from About Face: Veterans Against the War, LA Mesa Brown Berets, Centro CSO, a member of the Teamsters Union, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

“Jeremy didn’t get a second chance at life, the LAPD stole that from him and from us, they took away our future plans and dreams,” said Paola Mendez, Flores’s girlfriend, addressing the rally. “We were supposed to get married, we were building a life together! But because of you and your courage, advocacy, and solidarity, Jeremy’s name is not forgotten. His history is being told, his humanity is being honored and that means everything.”

“We denounce the brutal murder of Jeremy Flores,” said Lelani Gonzalez who spoke on behalf of CSO’s Police Accountability Committee. “We demand an independent and thorough investigation; we demand to jail the killer cops and want them to release the names and the disciplinary records of the cops who killed Jeremy Flores.”

Alejandro Orellana, a member of Centro CSO and Freedom Road Socialist Organization who faced FBI charges this summer due to his immigrant rights activism stated, “These incidents are interconnected. This is a matter of national oppression. Because Jeremy is a Chicano and I’m a Chicano. They think they can do whatever and arrest us without due process.”

Speakers reminded the crowd that Flores’s case is not isolated: It’s one of many, and it is part of why the movement for justice and community control of the police continues to grow. They emphasized the need to dismantle the system that continues to criminalize, brutalize and kill working-class Chicanos and Black people with no accountability. Speakers connected Jeremy Flores’ murder to a broader pattern of police violence in Boyle Heights and across East Los Angeles, citing the long history of racist policing and state repression in nationally oppressed communities.

The rally ended with chants: “Justice for Jeremy Flores!” and “Release the names!” The demand is clear: Those responsible must be named, exposed and held accountable!

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #Feature

Chicago, IL – Chicago's Area 5 Police Districts had a special meeting on Monday, July 28, in response to community outrage over slow investigation into sexual assaults. The commander tasked with helping residents “learn more about how CPD works” was John Foster, who is linked to multiple cases of wrongful convictions. Survivors of police torture and their allies confronted Foster and demanded his removal from CPD.

Superintendent Larry Snelling celebrated the detective work in cases where an assault perpetrator was charged, but Northwest Side residents said these cases only saw progress when hundreds of them consistently packed the 14th Police District Council meetings to support survivors and demand accountability.

District Councilors (DCs) in attendance included Ashley Vargas (14th), Elizabeth Rochford (17th), Angelica Green (25th), and Anthony Tamez (17th). Several helped facilitate the discussion in which constituents presented questions to CPD.

Residents called on DCs to make a vote of no confidence in John Foster’s ability to investigate criminal assault cases. Foster has at least 66 civilian complaints listed against him and has cost taxpayers $3.4 million in settlements for misconduct.

“Do you remember that man, right across from you,” Jasmine Smith, co-chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), asked Foster, “that you and Forberg pulled over and put a gun to his head and told him he’d never see daylight or these streets again?”

Smith pointed to Kevin Jackson, who spent 23 years and four months wrongfully incarcerated after being abused by John Foster and his partner at the time, Brian P. Forberg.

“You, Brian Forberg and Kevin Eberle are the cause of 41 wrongful convictions, including my two loved ones, Lester Owens and Rico Clark,” Smith continued. She is also a chair of CAARPR’s Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST), which fights for the freedom of hundreds of known survivors of wrongful conviction. She called on the DCs and the Mayor to fire Foster, Eberle and Forberg.

Foster’s 15 minute presentation included a slide on building trust with survivors and the community, but he refused to answer most questions.

“How in the world could victims receive treatment, when they were locked inside interrogation rooms and tortured by your members? You are also accused of torturing individuals inside police stations, and I think that is very unfair. Where is the integrity of justice?” asked Mark Clements, a survivor and organizer with the Chicago Torture Justice Center

Foster’s response? “I think it’s very disrespectful, this meeting is about sexual assault, it’s not about past behaviors or anything like that. So I think we should focus on criminal sexual assault.”

Residents pushed back on Foster's attempts to pit survivors of sexual assault against survivors of police torture. Many who were there for other reasons echoed the call for a vote of no confidence.

Foster rushed out the back door at the close of the meeting. Outside, he was seen verbally assaulting a woman who works for CPD.

17th District Councilor Anthony Tamez remarked “I am standing here today with community members to demand justice in the wrongful conviction of Kevin Jackson. Commander John Foster played a direct role in this miscarriage of justice and it is unacceptable. That is why I will be calling for a formal vote of no confidence at our next District Council meeting, August 17.”

#ChicagoIL #IL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #CAARPR #Torture #Feature

Colorado Springs, CO – On July 6, the family and friends of Alex Martinez gathered to mourn their loss after his life was taken by the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) the previous morning.

Over 50 people gathered with candles and balloons around a shrine erected in the spot in the downtown parking lot where CSPD shot Martinez in the back. Wails and cries could be heard throughout the crowd as dozens of balloons took to the skies.

CSPD states that on July 5 at 1:30 a.m. they responded to a call about a disturbance involving an adult male displaying a firearm. CSPD’s statement continues that officers monitoring downtown cameras “located an individual matching the description provided,” and that when they approached Martinez, he turned and started to run away while reaching into his waistband, at which point at least one officer shot him. A livestream posted by a community member of the aftermath shows an angry crowd gathered around the officers yelling at them that they didn’t have to shoot him.

This account of events is very similar to the account that CSPD shared after shooting De’Von Bailey in the back three times on August 19, 2019. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office states that it has begun an investigation into CSPD’s fatal shooting.

Martinez’s shooting comes one week after the shooting of another Chicano man, Jesus Ramirez, Jr. During this altercation police fired more than ten rounds into the surrounding apartment complex and afterwards left Ramirez’ body in the courtyard for 12 hours. This shooting also shares similarities with the shooting earlier in the year of a Black man, Johnny Altman, as he was running away from the CSPD in a parking lot. Martinez’ shooting marks the sixth fatal shooting by CSPD this year. Colorado Springs is currently on track to have its deadliest year of police shootings in over a decade.

The Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) attended the vigil. They were invited by a family member after an action for Martinez the night before on July 5. During that action, spokesperson Brandon Rincon said, “We know, time and time again, that when police shoot a person, the person who ends up investigating the police department is the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and we know, time and time again, that police cannot investigate the police.”

Rincon demanded accountability, saying “We call for community control of the police because we know that we need an apparatus to hold police accountable, so we don’t have to come out here into the streets every time the police shoot and kill one of our community members.”

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #COSAARPR #KillerCops #PoliceBrutality #ChicanoLatino #OppressedNationalities

Oak Lawn, IL – 50 people rallied outside the Oak Lawn Village Hall on Wednesday evening, July 2, before the monthly meeting of the Oak Lawn Police and Fire Commission. The Arab community and allies have shown up at every meeting for three years to challenge the racism of the Oak Lawn Police Department (OLPD).

“In July 2022 we showed up after Hadi Abuateleh, a 17-year-old Palestinian American boy was beaten almost to death by three Oak Lawn cops, Patrick O'Donnell, Brandon Collins and Mark Hollingsworth,” explained Nadiah Alyafai, a youth organizer with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN).

“Today we are also here to stand up and call for justice for our brother Murod Kurdi, who was tragically killed in 2023,” Alyafai added, and recounted how the same police department that beat Hadi Abuatelah for allegedly driving under the influence let Leanne Cusack, a white woman, get away with a ticket after killing Murod Kurdi while driving drunk.

One of the officers involved in the assault of Abuatelah, Mark Hollingsworth, was also implicated in letting Murod’s killer go.

These two cases show a clear pattern of racist policing, and the Oak Lawn Police and Fire Commission’s refusal to fire the officers shows how deeply embedded the racist discrimination is.

The crowd entered the Village Hall and shut the meeting down soon after it started with chants of “Justice for Murod Kurdi!” and “No justice, no peace! No racist police!”

The protesters were removed from the building by police and continued chanting outside. They ended with a message of love for Murod's mother, Fadia Muhammad, whose family has consistently kept up the fight for justice, and resolved to be back at the next meeting on August 6 at 5 p.m.

Rania Salem with the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) concluded the protest by saying “we will keep coming here month after month until the attorney general conducts an independent investigation into the OLPD and all the cops who assaulted Hadi are fired and charged!”

#OakLawnIL #IL #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #ArabAmerican #USPCN #PoliceBrutality #AAAN

Santa Ana, CA – On June 3, nine Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) members and supporters delivered public comments at Santa Ana’s city council meeting to demand justice for Noe Rodriguez. The attendees included two members of Noe Rodriguez’s family, including Erika Armenta, Rodriguez’s wife and mother of his two daughters, and Rodriguez’s sister. Many attending wore shirts designed by Armenta that included portraits of Rodriguez, and all held signs that displayed his killers – Officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra.

First to speak was Rain Mendoza, member of CSO OC, who stated, “Firstly, I wanted to address the Police Officers’ Association letter to the city council regarding our organization’s efforts for police accountability and police transparency. In that letter they called our organization: ‘pro criminal’ and ‘anti-public safety.’ I wanted to say that myself, nor anyone from CSO has ever shot anyone 29 times for holding a toy gun, or groped a minor and then sabotaged our own internal investigation, or commanded a K-9 to attack a 73-year-old man, ultimately killing him, like they did with Miguel Chavez. However, these are all actions committed by the Santa Ana Police Department, so if you wanna talk about anti-public safety, well there ya go!”

Around this time, the angle of the camera facing Mendoza was changed in order not to capture the signs brought by CSO OC members.

Mendoza concluded, “Also, if this is the way that the police department responds to the public pushing for accountability and transparency – with threatening letters – that is extremely concerning. Transparency and accountability are very basic things to expect from people being paid by our tax dollars.”

Next to speak was Erika Armenta, who said in Spanish: “I come once again here to speak of my husband, Noe Rodriguez, who was brutally killed by officers Isaac Ibarra and Luis Casillas on the first of December.”

CSO OC members stood behind Armenta and held a sign demanding that officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra be fired and arrested. The sign displayed both officers’ headshots. In an unprecedented move, the camera pointing at the speakers was turned off.

Armenta continued, “I come once again to demand all of the body camera video and the footage from the patrol cars as well as the police report. My daughters and I are shattered from this loss, and we do not have answers. We demand that the officers are made responsible for their actions! We know that this case is under investigation, but we demand that these officers stop patrolling our streets. Our community is in danger from these officers as they were involved in this murder. Nothing assures us that more officers will not commit the exact same crimes because they have not been made accountable for their actions.”

Armenta concluded, “SAPD is classified as among the hundred worst departments in the state. We need transparency! We need the Police Oversight Commission to function. What are we going to wait for to act, Santa Ana? Are we going to wait until this happens once again in our Hispanic community? We continue in the fight for Noe Rodriguez and with the support of God, all will be well.”

Armenta’s response was followed by a poor English translation done by the city that failed to capture her emotion or many of her main points. The translator’s voice stumbled over the officers’ names.

Next to speak was David Pulido, resident of Ward 5 and member of CSO OC. “First of all, I’m not sure who’s in charge of your cameras, but it's shameless and disgraceful that you’re not filming the speakers today, including Erika Armenta! You should be ashamed.”

Pulido continued, “In your last city council meeting, all but one member ignored her testimony. The rest of you were silent. Your silence is loud! That is unacceptable.”

The only city council member who offered support to Armenta and Rodriguez’s family was Johnathan Hernandez, who represents Ward 5. In 2021 Hernandez’s cousin, 34-year-old Brandon Lopez, was killed by Anaheim Police Department (APD) in the city of Santa Ana with the cooperation of the Santa Ana Police Department’s (SAPD). Lopez was unarmed and experiencing a mental health crisis when he was chased onto train tracks and pinned by a heavily armored SAPD vehicle. Anaheim police officers shot a flash bang grenade into Lopez’s vehicle and shot him over 22 times, with many of the shots fired once Lopez had already collapsed to the ground. APD claimed that they mistook a water bottle in Lopez’s bag for a gun. Ultimately, Anaheim was forced to pay a $6 million settlement to Lopez’s four children.

Pulido continued, “We are here to demand that the city council and city manager direct the Personnel Board to immediately remove killer cops Santa Ana Police officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra from the force without pay. Additionally, we demand that the Personnel Board and the Police Oversight Commission – as soon as it is empowered – investigate both officers for the violation of the police department’s code of ethics, for failing to uphold the department’s procedure in treating people with mental illness, and for the violation of Noe’s civil rights. The family demands that both officers be imprisoned so they do not continue to harm people and kill people in our community.”

Next to speak was Wendy Rodriguez [no relation to Noe Rodriguez], who came to support the family of Noe Rodriguez and CSO OC. She said, “I have been a resident of Santa Ana for 21 years, and today I am going to speak in Spanish because that was the only language that Noe understood.” Rodriguez continued, saying “It is not possible that you continue protecting killer cops like Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra, who are supposed to protect the community and not kill us in cold blood. In Santa Ana there is a large community that only speaks Spanish. Is this a crime? So, why did they only give Noe commands in English? Nothing justifies shooting an unarmed person 29 times. They couldn’t give warning shots, or non-lethal shots?”

Rodriguez continued, “How is it possible that these police continue to be free and patrolling our streets as if nothing had happened? While the life of a family and their small girls is destroyed? The answer is simple: those police know that they are protected by the Police Officers’ Association and by the mayor of Santa Ana [Valerie Amezcua].” She ended by reminding people that this is not an uncommon occurrence. “Today it was Noe, but tomorrow it could be any of us or one of your family members. Justice for Noe Rodriguez!”

Last to speak was Emma Gottfried, resident of Ward 4 and member of CSO OC. “We’re here as Orange County to demand justice for Noe Rodriguez. I want every single council member to look at these two officers. You guys seem to be very afraid of our signs and us being here in this presence. So I want every single council member to look at these two officers. These are killer cops! And these cops are on our streets, and that’s not OK.”

Gottfried continued, “The family demands that both officers be imprisoned so that they do not harm anyone again. And beyond just being killer cops, they’re also liars!” She pointed out that the officers lied about the number of shots they fired and added, “Ibarra said that Noe was waving around a shotgun and pointing it in their direction: that’s a complete fabrication! Again, the body camera footage completely contradicts both of these false claims.”

Mayor Valerie Amezcua did not directly address any of the comments. However, during public comment she sneered, rolled her eyes, and even blew her nose for several seconds in vulgar displays of disrespect. She ended the meeting with a 15 minute rant filled with police propaganda, including the mourning of a police officer from Los Angeles. In 2022 Amezcua received $217,850.91 campaign support from the Santa Ana Police Officers’ Association (SAPOA) for a mailer and text message campaign.

CSO OC continues to fight for justice for Noe Rodriguez and for community control of the police. If you are interested in building this fight and winning our demands, reach out to us:

Phone: (714) 367 – 6350

Instagram: cso.oc

Facebook: Orange County CSO

Email: orangecountycso@gmail.com

#SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #CSOOC