Los Angeles, CA – On July 30, Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee held an emergency rally to demand justice for Corey Ruiz, a 34-year-old African American man who was killed by the police on July 22 in Madison, Wisconsin. Over a dozen community members gathered at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights.

The protest in Los Angeles was a part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression week of action to demand justice for Corey Ruiz. The rally-goers held signs that uplifted the demands coming out of Madison, including “Jail killers cops” and “Community Control of police.” They also held posters with Corey Ruiz’s face on them.

Derek Mejia, the Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee co-chair, was the emcee. He started the program with, “We are here answering the national call put out by the National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression to demand justice for Corey Ruiz.”

Verita Topete, Centro CSO’s Immigration co-chair, also spoke at the rally, saying, “Justice for Corey Ruiz means more than words. It means a full, independent investigation. It means accountability for every officer involved. It means no more cover-ups. And it means putting power back into the hands of the people through community control of the police.”

Sammy Carrea, a Teamster and FRSO member said, “How many more lives need to be ripped away from their loved ones? How many more police killings before we organize for justice, before we organize to jail all killer cops, before we demand community control over the pigs, before we fight for Chicano self-determination, before we fight for self-determination for the Black Belt South? Justice for Corey Ruiz.”

Baba Akili from BLM LA Grassroots was the final speaker, “Too often what happens is the police kill us and we may not even see a blurb in the news and we just move on as if that's how it is in the world today. That is not how it is! What happened in Madison is a continuation of the war on Black people. What's happening with ICE is a continuation of the war on Latinos and immigrants.”

After the program, folks gather on the corner of First street and Vicente Fernandez Avenue, where Derek Mejia led the crowd in chants like “Justice for Corey Ruiz” and “When killer cops are on patrol

what do we want?” as the crowd yelled back “Community control!”

Luis Sifuentes, a longtime Centro CSO member said, “We’re here today to protest the killing of Corey Ruiz. This is another example of the police violence our communities continue to face in this country, especially Black communities. We’re standing in solidarity because what’s happening there is connected to what’s happening here in Los Angeles. Our struggles are connected, and that’s why we’re calling on people to come together, stand with one another, and demand justice.”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InjusticeSystem #CoreyRuiz #KillerCop #CentroCSO

Anaheim, CA – On July 30, Community Service Organization, Orange County (CSO OC), the family of Albert Arzola, and residents of Anaheim delivered a petition of 1840 signatures to the Anaheim Police Department.

During the delivery, Rosie Camacho stated, “December 6, 2025 changed our whole life. I watched my son die in front of my doorsteps. There was no first aid, there was nothing. I had guns drawn to my head.” Camacho continued, “They dragged my son through the ground like a dog. My son deserves justice, and fire Nathan Garcia!” Camacho then lead a chant of “Fuck Anaheim PD!”

Nathan Garcia is the officer who killed Albert Arzola on December 6, 2025.

Protesters gathered in front of Anaheim Public Library and began to march towards the Anaheim Police Department. Their chants of “Justice for Albert Arzola!” and “Jail killer cops!” rang throughout the streets. When they arrived, protesters attempted to go inside. However, Anaheim PD had locked their doors. Immediately, two Anaheim police officers came outside from a side door. The family of Albert Arzola, along with CSO OC members ,confronted the officers and demanded that they be let inside.

During the confrontation, Juanita Lopez, the grandmother of Albert Arzola, handed the petition directly to one of the Anaheim police officers. The family began to list their demands. With family members and CSO OC members alike demanding, “We want officer Nathan Garcia fired!” and “Publicly release the body cam footage!”

Grace Arzola, the aunt of Albert Arzola, said this during the confrontation,“Why can't we go inside our department? You guys serve us, we don't serve you. We don’t understand why we aren’t being let in.” After the officer responded stating that’s not what he was saying, Arzola continued, “Then let us go in, so we can deliver the petition. We’ve spread our concerns for the last seven months, and we’ve been ignored and we get greeted here with the doors closed!”

After about five minutes of confronting the officers, the protesters were finally allowed to go inside the department. Once inside, family members and CSO OC members demanded to speak with the Chief of Police Manuel Cid. Anaheim police officers refused to let the family speak to Cid, using the excuse that he was at an event. They demanded for him to be put on the phone, which again was denied.

The family was left with a phone number and was told to contact Manuel Cid through the number and set up a meeting. The family made sure to point out that they will in fact hold Manuel Cid to that meeting.

During the whole confrontation, the department had no choice but to hear the Arzolas’ demands, with family members telling the officers that Nathan Garcia needs to be fired, and to release the autopsy report. The officers were very visibly shaken and were nervous the entire time. For months, the department has ignored the Arzolas, now they had no choice but to listen.

Afterward, protesters gathered out in front of the department and began with chants of “Nathan Garcia, lock him up!” The energy was angry with a lot of tears flowing from the family over being disregarded by Anaheim PD for the last several months.

Both the Arzolas and CSO OC vowed to keep confronting Anaheim PD and build pressure onto Anaheim Police Chief Manuel Cid until their demands are met and Nathan Garcia is fired. The family remains angry and frustrated, however, that doesn’t slow them down. It only fuels their fire to get officer Nathan Garcia fired and put behind bars.

#AnaheimCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #CSOOC

San Francisco, CA – On July 27, a crowd surrounded the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco for the People’s State of the Nation Address to protest against the reactionary Bongbong Marcos Jr. This comes after a torrent of nationwide protests which have rocked the Philippines in the wake of economic disasters and armed attacks on workers and farmers.

The action began with the song Kapangyarihan honoring the martyrs who died resisting Duterte’s “War on Drugs,” which extrajudicially killed 30,000 people.

Che Lodico from Kabataan Alliance stated, “This past June I participated in the Bayanihan disaster response trip and peasant integration to the Philippines. During our trip, we were able to integrate to the province of Camarines Sur, which is one of the richest provinces and yet the people there are the poorest in the Bicol Region.”

Lodico continued, “Just like most of the countryside in the Philippines, many of the farmers do not own the land they are tilling on, so they are hired by the landowners as farmworkers for only 250 to 500 pesos a day.” This follows a pattern in the Philippines as victims of poverty and man-made environmental disasters are met with neglect, red-tagging, and even extrajudicial killings by the Marcos regime for demanding welfare and repairs.

“Why is the NTF-ELCAC investing 24 million pesos in constructing dams, flood control dams, water systems, road constructions in indigenous people’s communities of Mindanao? Because they only want to attack the activist youth and peasants. They also take away their livelihoods by creating man-made disasters in the countryside!” continued Lodico.

Tree Aquino from Pilipino Laban sa Korapsyon (PILAK) stated, “Currently, Vice President Sara Duterte made history for being the first Filipino politician to be impeached twice, and this trial must continue without fail. She must be held accountable for the misuse of 600 million pesos in public funds, and we demand that she be transparent with her bank and tax records!”

Aquino also recalled attempts made by the organization to call on the Philippine Consulate and its consulate general, Arnel Talisayon, to protect Filipino migrants, only to find they had lopsided priorities.

“When we tried to schedule a meeting with Arnel Talisayon to discuss the pressing needs of Filipinos and undocumented migrants in our area, he left his scheduled meet-and-greet early and did not address any of our concerns,” Aquino lamented. “Meanwhile, he happily takes time to meet with big tech and sell out the Philippines to the highest bidder!”

Isa Patoto made a tearful plea on behalf of the Defend Negros Island Campaign to seek accountability and justice for the Toboso 19 and victims of extrajudicial killings. “On April 19 and 20, the 79th Infantry Battalion from the Armed Forces of the Philippines did a forced evacuation of 653 people from Toboso, Negros Occidental and did an illegal strafing on their community killing 19 including two beloved Filipino American activists, Lyle Prijoles and Kai Sorem.” This comes as one-third of all extrajudicial killings by the Marcos Regime are committed in the “Sugarbowl of the Philippines” alone.

“The massacre was a direct result of the organized peasants and farmers who resisted under the NTF-ELCAC and under the guise of counterinsurgency. And what did Bongbong Marcos do? He congratulated the 79th Infantry Battalion and treated them to a feast, and also had a bid for the UN Security Council!” said Patoto, highlighting the absurdity of the government’s response to the AFP’s violation of international human law.

The action ended with a performance of the song Lahat ng Sangkot, Dapat Managot, while protesters destroyed effigies of Trump and Bongbong Marcos Jr. as the crowd cheered on.

#SanFranciscoCA #CA #International #Philippines

Los Angels, CA – On July 25, in downtown Los Angeles a coalition of over 50 organizations and faith leaders gathered for a funeral procession to honor the lives of those murdered by ICE. This action was organized under the slogan “Justice for All.”

The procession started at LA City Hall and marched through the streets carrying handmade cardboard coffins and pictures of those killed by ICE, including Keith Porter, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

No Camps CA and NELA for Democracy were the two main groups that organized this vigil demanding a full, independent investigation, the release and protection of those who witnessed the murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, an end to local collaboration with ICE, and for immediate action by Congress.

Marylinda Moss from NELA for Democracy told the crowd, “It was powerful and moving to have more than 50 grassroots groups here in LA and all across the country come together in unity in just over a week, for [the] ‘Justice for All Day of Action and Accountability’ to stand in solidarity against the brutality and the senseless killings enacted by this government. Thanks to the many hands and hearts it took to make over 70 coffins in a week, paired with the ‘Killed by ICE’ placards; it was an undeniable visual of what is being done to our people.”

Los Jornaleros Del Norte, a band that is known for leading protests with cumbias and “Music that accompanies the struggle and celebrates the dignity of the immigrant and working-class community,” guided the procession from Los Angeles City Hall to Placita Olvera.

Brianna Mosqueda from Centro CSO said, “Being able to be a pallbearer was an honor. But it also made me think about the 73-plus families that have to carry their fathers, mothers, or children to rest. These families suffer because of modern day ethnic cleansing. We see the warnings and if we don’t do anything now, this will become a genocide.”

Michelle Arkin with No Concentration Camps CA said, “At the Justice for All vigil in downtown Los Angeles we gathered to mourn lives that should never have been lost: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Johan Sebastian Guerrero, and the more than 70 people who have died in ICE custody or murdered on our streets. Our grief is real, but it is not the end of the story. Standing and processing with 73 coffins in solidarity, we transformed mourning into a powerful reminder that no one stands alone. Unity is our greatest strength.”

Verita Topete, the co-chair of Centro CSO’s Immigration Committee, read a statement of accountability and ended with, “We can say ‘abolish ICE’ but what happens when ICE is abolished? Before ICE there was INS. The people in power will just start over and build another agency to oppress and kill us. This is why we need legalization for all 11-plus million undocumented immigrants.”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #ICE

Los Angeles, CA – On July 25 in the City of Industry, 50 people protested outside the Industry Sheriff’s Station to demand justice for Joseph Perez and for his immediate release from jail.

On July 27, 2020, nearly six years ago, Joseph Perez was brutally beaten by sheriffs in the City of Industry, which is located about 30 minutes east of downtown Los Angeles. Some of those sheriffs were later involved in the beating of teens outside of a Montclair bowling alley, where the deputies were arrested. The deputies admitted to internal affairs that they were tattooed deputy gang members and part of the “Industry Indians.” No deputies have faced discipline over the brutal beating of Joseph Perez.

Families who have lost their loved ones to either LAPD or LASD were present to speak in solidarity with Vanessa Perez’s fight for justice for her son Joseph. The families of Jeremy Anthony Flores, Eric Rivera, Anthony Vargas and John Horton III and others were at the rally.

The rally also featured a united front of organizations fighting for police accountability, like Check The Sheriff Coalition, Justice LA, Power Now, SV DEBUG and Centro CSO.

The crowd chanted, “Ban! Ban! Deputy gangs!” and “Say his name: Joseph Perez!”

Luis Sifuentes of FRSO stated, “We have to keep fighting, we have to keep fighting these officials that are protecting these pigs, we have to fight these police associations!”

Katherine Palma spoke about her brother, Jeremy Anthony Flores, who was shot and killed by LAPD, “The cops just shoot they don't stop and think about other solutions, it’s not fair that they can laugh and enjoy time with their loved ones when they took one of ours.”

Emiliano Martin Del Campo of Centro CSO stated, “These killings, beatings and wrongful convictions of our community members will not stop until we have community control of the police implemented here and all over this country. Our neighborhoods will never be safe until we have a say in who polices them and how they do so.”

Deanna Brock, the mother of Emmett Brock, told the crowd, “My son Emmet Brock, a 23-year-old teacher, was brutally assaulted by an LA County Sheriff deputy My son used his First Amendment right to flip off a cop, that cop got in his car and followed Joseph and pulled him over in a parking lot where he brutally beat him.”

Deputy Joseph Benza lll was eventually federally charged for violating the civil rights of Emmet Brock, and will be sentenced at the end of this year.

Vanessa Perez closed the rally by saying, “To every family here: our pain has connected us but so has our strength. I stand with each and every one of you in whatever capacity I can, because your fight is my fight. CSO! We made history again in Joseph’s name.”

The rally ended with chants and a sign-waving on the main dtreet near the sheriff’s station. There is an ongoing civil lawsuit against LASD in the name of Joseph Perez, and Centro CSO will be on the ground to support the fight for justice.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #JosephPerez #CentroCSO

Gilroy, CA – On Sunday, July 19, over 250 community members of all ages and backgrounds gathered at San Ysidro Park to protest the planned ICE facility under construction in Gilroy. The strategic placement of the ICE detention center, located in the southern region of Santa Clara County in Northern California, would allow for an increase in immigration enforcement activity, threatening surrounding communities.

The four-mile march to the detention center construction site began with lively chants demanding “Legalization for all” and “Justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, and Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán,” the most recent lives lost at the hands of ICE agents. Two of these most recent martyrs were shot by ICE in cold blood. The community also stood in solidarity with fellow immigrant rights activists by calling for “Hands off Nadia Topete!” and repeated “Shut it down!” just mere feet from the entrance of the ICE site.

Kímberly Cortéz-Solorio, an organizer with the Community Service Organization (CSO) San José, shared that the county of Santa Clara and the state’s attorney general are engaged in legal proceedings against ICE which have temporarily halted the construction. But they reminded the community to “celebrate cautiously,” not let down their guard and to continue to demand a permanent halt.

The second CSO San José speaker, Ariya Amin, called out the hypocrisy of ICE, which labels people as “illegal,” while ICE agents regularly commit illegal atrocities with impunity. From planning the ICE facility in unincorporated Gilroy, to arresting people without warrants, to committing severe and daily human rights violations, ICE's actions have been unlawful. Amin declared that this administration has a duty to obey “the will of [the] people,” and reminded attendees that it is up to el pueblo to ensure that our consent is considered and prioritized.

The crowd also heard from Huy Tran, the executive director of Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN). During his speech, Tran asked the community to reflect on how well we hold accountable those in power and to remind them who is actually in charge here: the people. Tran stressed the importance of having difficult conversations, continuing the struggle, and letting others “see the activation” by being civically engaged.

Edwin Salazar from the Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services asked the audience to imagine the implications of this ICE site and its proximity to beloved areas with high-immigrant populations, such as Gilroy and San José. Salazar shared how this country conditions its citizens via capitalism and urged the “community to collectivize” our resources to move forward.

Megan Sweet with Freedom Road Socialist Organization spoke about the acceleration of “large-scale invasions by the DHS” and how the brutality of operations we see on national news has already been witnessed in our streets. Sweet shared the cases of Ulises Peña López, who was left disabled after a violent encounter with ICE and ultimately deported, and Guillermo Medina Reyes, who was arrested by federal agents and is currently facing a legal battle.

Representing Working Partnerships USA, Rebeca Armendariz announced that the Santa Clara County Counsel (who had filed a lawsuit against ICE) had won their request for a temporary injunction, putting on pause any construction work for the coming weeks. Despite ICE not being prepared with the paperwork, Armendariz shared, the true threat was the mobilization of the masses.

In early September, the construction of this ICE detention center will resume and Gilroy organizers affirm they will be there to greet it. The struggle they are building will outpace and outlast anything ICE constructs.

#GilroyCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #ICE

Oakland, CA- On Saturday, July 18, 32 community members gathered at the site where the Oakland Police Department (OPD) shot and killed a man in Oakland's Fruitvale district on Monday afternoon. Mourners placed flowers and candles on a street median near a shopping center where the victim died, held moments of silence, and created protest art in the street to honor his life while demanding justice and accountability.

The vigil, organized by the Oakland Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (OAARPR) with support from POOR Magazine, Justice for Jalani, Coalition for Police Accountability, Community Service Organization, Urban Peace Movement and Black Alliance for Peace, transformed the site of the killing into a memorial and a space for community resistance. Throughout the evening, speakers condemned the police killing, criticized the growing role of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in East Oakland, and called for the immediate release of all video evidence.

The shooting happened shortly after 2 p.m. near the 4000 block of International Boulevard, a predominantly immigrant neighborhood. According to the Oakland Police Department, CHP officers requested assistance after a man fled during an operation that began at a nearby homeless encampment. Police claim the man was “armed.”

Police have not identified the man or described the alleged weapon. Despite the shooting taking place on a busy commercial corridor with many surveillance cameras, OPD has not released body camera footage or other video evidence, fueling community demands for transparency.

“This is the third person killed by Oakland police this year,” said Romaine Charite, chair of the impacted families committee of OAARPR. “They aren't releasing the details of these killings. They haven't been releasing body camera footage, which is against California law. We have the California Public Records Act. They are going around killing people, and we are not going to put up with that.”

“If there was not a sweep, no one would have died,” Jeremy Miller from Black Alliance for Peace told the crowd. “Our homeless people are our community. Our street people are our community.”

Terry Lovett, the mother of Jalani Lovett, who has fought for justice since Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies killed her son in 2021, also addressed the vigil from a very personal place, rejecting the claim that expanding policing creates safer neighborhoods.

“We reject the false choice that says our only option is more police and more violence. We need housing, not handcuffs; mental healthcare, not punishment; education instead of fear,” Lovett said. “No one is coming to save our communities. We must save our communities. We keep each other safe.”

“He belongs to somebody,” Lovett said of the man killed by OPD. “He belongs to us if nobody else.”

Community members noted that the man killed by police has still not been publicly identified and condemned media coverage that erased his humanity. One widely circulated news report stated that “no community members were harmed.” Organizers called the language a stark example of the dehumanization of unhoused people and a life lost.

The killing is the third police shooting by OPD officers this year and the department's second fatal shooting. Although OPD says the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave while multiple investigations are underway, those gathered at the vigil said official investigations are meaningless without public evidence. OPD remains under federal oversight stemming from the Riders police misconduct scandal, which resulted in a court-ordered reform process that has continued for more than two decades.

As bouquets of flowers and community artwork covered the pavement where the man was killed, attendees closed the vigil by renewing their demands for the release of all available footage, the public identification of the victim, and accountability for the officers involved. The crowd ended the evening with a chant that captured the spirit of the vigil, “Who keeps us safe? We keep us safe.”

#OaklandCA #CA #InjusticeSystem #OAARPR #KillerCop

Santa Ana, CA – El miércoles por la tarde, 15 de julio, cerca de 70 manifestantes tomaron la esquina de las calles Bristol y 1st en Santa Ana con el grito de “¡Justicia para Lorenzo Salgado Araujo! ¡Justicia para Joan Sebastian Guerrero!” y “¡Manos fuera de Nadia!”. Esta protesta se llevó a cabo durante una semana de acción nacional convocada por la Red de Legalización para Todos para exigir justicia para Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Joan Sebastian Guerrero y la activista por los derechos de los inmigrantes Nadia Topete.

“Hoy estamos aquí porque en tan solo una semana, el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) ha matado a tres personas. ¡Qué vergüenza!”, declaró Diana Terreros de la Organización de Servicio Comunitario del Condado de Orange (CSO OC).

Terreros continuó describiendo a los dos hombres conocidos que fueron asesinados por ICE, “Lorenzo fue asesinado en Houston y había vivido en los Estados Unidos por 35 años. Simplemente estaba en camino al trabajo después de recoger a su equipo cuando ICE decidió detenerlo y asesinarlo. Estaban en vehículos sin identificación y no llevaban cámaras corporales. Joan Sebastian Guerrero era un colombiano de 26 años que vivía en Maine. También fue asesinado después de que ICE comenzara una parada de tráfico. Le dispararon y lo mataron mientras su pareja y su hija de tres años miraban”.

Luego se guardó un minuto de silencio por todas las víctimas de ICE.

“Estamos aquí para exigir el fin de los asesinatos de ICE, el fin de las deportaciones, que ICE se vaya de nuestros barrios y la legalización para todos”, exclamó Terreros al cerrar.

“¡Sin justicia no hay paz!” y “¡Fuera ICE de Santa Ana!”, coreaban los manifestantes.

Luis Morales Pedraza Babylon, del comité de inmigración de CSO OC, declaró, “El intento de silenciar a Nadia no es solo un ataque contra ella; es una táctica calculada para mantenernos a todos en la ignorancia. Los mismos sistemas que temen la voz de Nadia son los mismos que tomaron las vidas de Lorenzo Salgado Araujo y Joan Sebastian Guerrero. Estas no son tragedias aisladas. Son el resultado de un sistema que trata a nuestras familias como desechables”.

Babylon habló sobre la represión que enfrenta Nadia Topete, activista por los derechos de los inmigrantes de Centro CSO en Los Ángeles. El FBI la ha citado en dos ocasiones para comparecer ante un gran jurado, y en ambas ocasiones ella ha resistido.

Rachel, de AlianzaTransLatinx, tomó la palabra, “Hoy alzamos la voz por las víctimas y por aquellos que aún permanecen detenidos por ICE. Nuestra humanidad no termina cuando cruzamos una frontera. ¡Exigimos transparencia y una investigación cuando una persona muere en detención o a manos de ICE!”.

“Se me rompe el corazón y me lleno de rabia cada vez que otra familia, otra vida, es destruida por la crueldad inimaginable de ICE. ¡Debemos honrar a Lorenzo, a Joan y a cada vida arrebatada por ICE presentándonos en esta lucha y ganando!”, declaró Jenna Pérez, miembro del comité de inmigración de CSO OC.

Pérez continuó, “También luchamos junto a nuestros vecinos inmigrantes de la comunidad local, aquí mismo en Santa Ana. Los residentes y las familias del parque de casas móviles Coach Royal han sufrido abusos, acoso, y los residentes inmigrantes han sido amenazados con llamar a ICE. Incluso la empresa Kingsley Corporation les ha robado ilegalmente sus hogares. ¡Únanse con nosotros para luchar junto con los residentes de Coach Royal y decir fuera Kingsley!”.

A continuación, los manifestantes marcharon alrededor de la gran intersección de cuatro vías portando pancartas que decían, “ICE asesino, fuera de nuestras calles”, “Alto a las deportaciones” y “Justicia para los asesinados por ICE”.

Rain Mendoza, de la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad, tomó el micrófono y declaró, “Lorenzo Salgado y Joan Sebastian son la décima y la undécima persona asesinada durante una operación relacionada con ICE bajo el gobierno de Trump. La violencia inhumana ejercida contra los inmigrantes no es nada nuevo, ya que los esfuerzos de deportación han sido históricamente fatales”.

Mendoza continuó, “Durante las deportaciones masivas de la Gran Depresión y la Operación Espalda Mojada, inmigrantes y chicanos fueron deportados y también murieron en centros de detención o durante operaciones de inmigración. Por eso soy un comunista que lucha por la revolución socialista y por derrocar a la clase dominante. Solo una revolución socialista que ponga fin a la clase dominante que nos pisa el cuello y permite que policías asesinos y agentes de ICE nos disparen puede traer un cambio”.

“¡Justicia para Lorenzo Araujo! ¡Justicia para Joan Sebastian Guerrero!”, corearon los manifestantes mientras ocupaban ambos extremos de la esquina y más autos tocaban sus bocinas en apoyo.

La acción fue organizada por la Organización de Servicio Comunitario del Condado de Orange en respuesta a un llamado a la acción de la Red Legalización Para Todos. Si desea ponerse en contacto con CSO OC, puede hacerlo a través de Instagram en CSO.OC o por correo electrónico en orangecountycso@gmail.com.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #DerechosDeLosInmigrantes #CentroCSO

Santa Ana, CA – El 8 de julio, más de 50 chicanos se manifestaron afuera de la corte federal en apoyo a Nadia Topete, una activista chicana por los derechos de los inmigrantes de Centro CSO que estuvo dentro compareciendo ante un gran jurado. Solo días antes, el 1 de julio, agentes federales llegaron a la casa de Nadia con otra citación del gran jurado, amenazándola con que, si no se presentaba, podría ser declarada en desacato.

Nadia Topete salió de la corte federal con la frente en alto y declaró que había ejercido su derecho a la Quinta Enmienda. Fue recibida con gritos de “Hands Off Nadia Topete!” [¡Manos fuera de Nadia Topete!], “¡Chinga la migra!”, y “DOJ Hands Off Nadia!” [¡Departamento de Justicia, manos fuera de Nadia!] que fueron lo suficientemente altos como para oírse dentro del edificio federal.

“¡Protestar contra ICE no es un crimen!” dijo Verita Topete, hermana de Nadia y organizadora chicana. “Nuestras comunidades son más fuertes que Trump y los intereses de la clase dominante del Departamento de Justicia. Los ataques contra Nadia son parte del patrón de represión política del gobierno federal.”

Jasia Topete, hermana mayor de Nadia y Verita dijo, “Hoy fue una acción muy conmovedora de unidad y apoyo hacia mi hermana bebé, Nadia. Ver el enorme respaldo que ha recibido a nivel nacional, a través de las convocatorias en línea de distintas organizaciones, fue muy reconfortante de ver. Ver que tantas personas tomaron el tiempo para salir y mostrar su cariño fue muy reconfortante y alentador para nuestra familia. Nosotros sabemos que ella no hizo nada malo. Amplificar la voz de nuestra gente no es un crimen. Ella seguirá con la frente en alto, como la persona segura y resiliente que es. Nadia, te queremos. Muchísimas gracias a todos los que están apoyando a Nadia.”

Mick Kelly del Comité para Detener la Represión del FBI le dijo al público, “Quiero saludar a Nadia, una mujer de valentía poco común que se está levantando por todos nosotros. Esto ciertamente no terminará aquí. Estaremos con Nadia en cada paso del camino.”

Emiliano Martin Del Campo, miembro de Centro CSO, dijo, “Veo este ataque del Departamento de Justicia y del gobierno de Trump no solo como un ataque directo contra nuestra hermana Nadia, sino como un golpe directo contra todos nosotros que luchamos contra esta administración. ¡Un ataque contra uno es un ataque contra todos!”

Participaron oradores de Centro CSO, CSO OC, CLUE, ILPS, la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad y Legalización Para Todos quienes hablaron en defensa de Topete y condenaron la represión política contra activistas de derechos de los inmigrantes.

No está claro qué sigue, pero si la cacería del Departamento de Justicia continúa, Centro CSO y sus aliados estarán listos para defender a los suyos, a Nadia Topete, una hija de Aztlán.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #CentroCSO

Los Angeles – On July 14, Centro CSO and the family of Jeremy Anthony Flores, along with allies, gathered at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights to honor Jeremy's life on his one year Angelversary. Flores, a 26-year-old Chicano, was shot and killed by officers from LAPD’s Hollenbeck Division on July 14, 2025.

The vigil for Flores began with setting out flowers, photos, candles and handmade posters It was followed by a small program of speakers from local organizations and other impacted families.

Magda Gutierrez, a member of CSO’s Police Accountability Committee, spoke out against the LAPD Board of Police Commissioners recent ruling that the killing of Flores was “within LAPD policy.” Gutierrez further spoke on the need for Community Control of the Police in Los Angeles saying, “We can follow in the footsteps of cities like Chicago and demand community control of police. We have the right; we should have the right to hire and fire police. We should have the right to hold these officers accountable for their actions.”

Karina Lopez of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) spoke of the killing of Flores and other Chicanos in the Southwest as a symptom of national oppression, “What we are seeing today with police brutality, with the deportations, and with ICE killing our community members is a continuation of national oppression. With that we have to fight for our liberation. We have to fight for the liberation of Chicanos. We have to fight for community control of the police.”

Isabella Rivera, mother of Jeremy Flores, speaking about the vigil and the effects of her son’s killing a year later she said, “Marking the first anniversary of Jeremy’s passing, beyond reliving the pain of his absence, was a celebration of his life featuring the food he loved and how he would have wanted it to be. I felt a sense of fulfillment having accomplished this with the help of my children, Centro CSO, and the community. We will continue to fight for Justice for Jeremy Flores.”

Throughout the program, speakers and community members chanted, “Justice for Jeremy Flores!” and “Jail killer cops!”

DeAnna Sullivan, mother of David Sullivan, killed by Buena Park police in 2019, shared words and condolences with Isabella Rivera, the mother of Jeremy Anthony Flores. Speaking about the lack of police accountability she said, “Who is holding the police accountable? Not the chief, not the DOJ. Police are not held accountable at all.”

Afterwards, community members were invited to share Jeremy’s favorite foods with the Flores family. These included tamales and panes con pollo, a traditional Salvadorian dish.

Centro CSO has been on the ground in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles fighting back against police crimes for over ten years. To stay updated, follow them on social media under the handle “CENTROCSO”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA- On Friday July 17, over 100 community members in Boyle Heights gathered at Mariachi Plaza for a vigil and press conference protesting the recent ICE killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero. This event was one of many held across the country as part of the Legalization for All national week of action.

“Now that these two fathers have lost their life, their children are going to have to deal with the grief and trauma for the rest of their lives,” said Antonieta Garcia from the CSO education committee.

On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed while on his way to work by ICE agents who apparently mistook him for someone else. Then, on July 13, Joan Sebastian Guerrero was fatally shot in the face in front of his wife and three-year-old daughter. During the past year, over 30 people have died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and over ten fatally shot and killed during enforcement operations.

“For the past two years Trump and his cronies have repeatedly used ICE and DHS to disrupt and destroy the working class. Our oppressors invest billions into these violent agencies instead of funding our communities or raising our wages,” said Henry Cornejo, a Teamster and member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

These recent deaths have sparked outrage amongst people from across the country from all walks of life. Organizers and activists everywhere are demanding accountability. However, the administration also wants to crack down on those that are fighting on the front lines for these causes. One such activist, Nadia Topete, has recently become the target of FBI repression.

“They want to intimidate activists and silence our movement, but we will not back down. CSO and L4A stands in solidarity with our sister Nadia and all organizers facing political repression,” said Verita Topete, co-chair of the CSO immigration committee.

As ICE continues to spread terror and violence through their enforcement actions, we cannot allow these murderers to operate with impunity in our communities. Derek Mejia from the CSO police accountability committee told the crowd, “Whether it’s ICE, LAPD or LASD, we need killer cops off our streets!”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #KillerICE #InJusticeSystem #CentroCSO

Santa Ana, CA – On Friday, July 17 several members of Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) delivered a petition to the Santa Ana Immigration Court. In May of 2025, the court was one of the first places Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) started arresting people. CSO OC has been running a campaign since then to pressure the immigration judges to move all hearings online so that people attending their hearings would not have to face ICE at the court. They collected over 1000 signatures calling for this.

Although, in June of 2026, a California judge ruled that arrests will no longer be allowed inside or outside immigration courts, CSO OC members upheld their demands.

Diana Terreros stated, “CSO OC found that the judges had a policy, PM21-03, that allows them to do remote hearings whenever they want. By choosing not to implement universal remote hearings, the judges at this immigration court have been complicit in ICE’s illegal arrests and allowed them to tear apart families. Even now, there is still a risk that ICE will continue detaining people at the court despite the ruling. ICE has shown complete disregard for the law and people's rights.”

CSO OC members marched towards the immigration court holding two large signs with photos of people who have died in ICE detention with “Detention = Death.” They held a banner that said, “Stop ICE arrests at the court!” They chanted “ICE out of our neighborhoods!” and “No justice, no peace! No ICE in our streets!”

Steven Ayoub stated, “Think about what that does to a person. You're forced into an impossible choice: show up to court and risk arrest or skip your hearing and be deported automatically for not appearing. There's no safe option. And I want to be honest with you about how high the stakes have become, because this isn't only about detention anymore. Just this past month, in Texas, a man named Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed. He was a 52-year-old father of three, originally from Mexico, who had been living in the United States for decades. On the morning of July 7, he was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Houston.”

Ayoub continued, “I raise this because it shows what we're really talking about. When enforcement is this aggressive and this unaccountable, an ordinary person doing an ordinary thing driving to work, or showing up to a court date can end up detained, or worse.”

Luis Morales Pedraza Babylon shared his experience. “I’m currently in the court system applying for a spousal green card and ever since the ICE thing started happening, sometimes when I go to sleep that’s all I think about. What if I get arrested and get sent to Mexico? I was brought here when I was four years old ,so I wouldn’t really know what to do over there.”

When they arrived at the court, they marched in holding their signs and were met with security and metal detectors. Once inside, they handed the petitions to the clerk desk. They had printed and addressed a petition for each of the 22 judges. The clerk initially did not want to accept them and had to go through two supervisors to get approval, although a stack of papers being delivered to them is not out of the ordinary. In the end, the petitions were accepted and delivered to the judges.

CSO OC fights for immigrant rights and police accountability. If you would like to connect with CSO OC you can contact them through Instagram at CSO.OC or gmail at orangecountycso@gmail.com.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OrangeCounty #CSOOC #ImmigrantRights #ICE

Santa Ana, CA – On Wednesday evening, July 15, around 70 protesters took over the corner of Bristol and 1st in Santa Ana with the rallying cry, “Justice for Lorenzo Salgao Araujo! Justice for Joan Sebastian Guerrero!” “Hands off Nadia!” This protest was put on during a national week of action that was called by the Legalization 4 All Network to demand justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Joan Sebastian Guerrero, and immigrants’ rights activist Nadia Topete.

“Today, we are here because in just one week, Immigration and Custom Enforcement has killed three people! Shame!”, stated Diana Terreros from Community Organization Orange County (CSO OC).

Terreros continued with describing the two known men who were murdered by ICE, “Lorenzo was killed in Houston and had lived in the U.S. for 35 years. He was simply on his way to work after picking up his crew when ICE decided to stop him and murder him. They were in unmarked cars and did not have body cameras. Joan Sebastian Guerrero was a 26-year-old Colombian living in Maine. He was murdered also after ICE initiated a traffic stop. They shot and killed him while his partner and three-year-old daughter watched.”

A moment of silence was then held for all victims of ICE.

“We are here to demand an end to ICE murders, an end to deportations, ICE out of our neighborhoods, and legalization for all!” exclaimed Terreros as she closed out.

“Sin justicia no hay paz!” and “ICE out of Santa Ana!”chanted the protesters.

Luis Morales Pedraza Babylon from CSO OC immigration committee stated, “The attempt to silence Nadia is not just an attack on her; it is a calculated tactic to keep every single one of us in the dark. The same systems that fear Nadia’s voice are the same systems that claimed the lives of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero. These are not isolated tragedies. They are the result of a system that treats our families as disposable.”

Babylon spoke regarding the repression immigrant rights activist Nadia Topete from Centro CSO in Los Angeles is facing. She has been subpoenaed by the FBI to appear before a grand jury twice and twice she has resisted.

Rachel from AlianzaTransLatinx took the mic, “Today we raise our voice for the victims and those also still detained by ICE. Our humanity does not end when we cross a border. We demand transparency and an investigation when a person is killed in detention or at the hands of ICE!”

“My heart breaks and I am filled with rage every time another family, another life is destroyed by the unimaginable cruelty of ICE. We must honor Lorenzo, Joan, and every single life taken by ICE by showing up to this fight and by winning!” stated Jenna Perez, member of CSO OC immigration committee.

Perez continued, “We are also fighting alongside our immigrant neighbors in our local community right here in Santa Ana. Residents and families of the mobile home park Coach Royal have suffered abuse, harassment, and immigrant residents have been threatened with ICE being called on them. They have even had their homes illegally stolen from them by the Kingsley Corporation. Join us as we fight alongside the residents of Coach Royal and say fuera Kingsley!”

The protesters then marched around the large four-way intersection while holding signs stating “Killer ICE off our streets,” “Stop the deportations” and “Justice for those murdered by ICE.”

Rain Mendoza of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization took the mic, “Lorenzo Salgado and Joan Sebastian are the tenth and eleventh people to be killed in an ICE-related operation under the Trump administration. The inhumane violence done to immigrants is nothing new as deportation efforts have historically been fatal.”

Mendoza continued, “During mass deportations of the Great Depression and Operation Wetback, immigrants and Chicanos were deported and also died either in detention centers or during immigration operations. This is why I am a communist fighting for socialist revolution and overthrowing the ruling class. Only socialist revolution which brings about an end to the ruling class that steps on our necks and allows killer cops and ICE agents to shoot us down, can bring a change.”

“Justicia para Lorenzo Araujo! Justicia para Joan Sebastian Guerrero!”chanted the protesters as they took up both ends of the corner as more cars honked in support.

The action was organized by Community Service Organization OC as a response to a call to action by the Legalization 4 All Network. If you would like to connect with CSO OC you can contact them through Instagram at CSO.OC or gmail at orangecountycso@gmail.com.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #CSOOC #L4A

Santa Ana, CA – On June 15, Community Service Organization Orange County and movement lawyers with the Peace and Justice Law Center served a demand letter threatening to sue Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) for not disclosing records about the arrest and death of Freddie Washington. On July 1, SAPD was forced to release 18 body camera videos, 58 photographs and two incident reports. These records reveal the moments leading up to Freddie’s arrest on January 15, 2025.

Police were called about a man refusing to pay for his stay at a hotel in Santa Ana. The first officers to respond were Isaac Ibarra and Jonathan Mondragon. Ibarra was one of two officers who killed unarmed Noe Rodriguez in 2024, shooting him 11 times and lying about what Rodriguez was doing before the shooting.

When Freddie Washington did not answer the door, Officer Isaac Ibarra opened it using a set of master keys. Officer Jonathan Mondragon immediately drew his gun and pointed it directly at Washington during about 14 minutes of “negotiation.” Both officers tried to convince him to leave his room, calling for backup as Washington called his lawyer. Mondragon’s report mentions Washington’s “erratic” language and “refusal to comply,” both common justifications for excessive force by police.

Four more officers arrived and Ibarra coordinated the arrest. Police entered with tasers drawn, wrestled Freddie Washington out of his chair and forced him against a hotel room bed. Officers Jonathan Mondragon and Francisco Rodriguez held him down. An officer we can now identify as Frank Corpus punched Washington in the head twice on camera. Washington screamed for help.

Police wrestled Washington to the floor. As three held Washington down, officer Jesse Hernandez pressed his taser against Washington’s body and said, “Stop or you’re going to get tased” and “Stop fighting,” to which Washington replied, “I’m not fighting! Y’all are fighting me!”

Jesse Hernandez was involved in a prior in-custody death: on September 13 2022, Hernandez was one of many SAPD officers who chased unarmed 72-year-old Miguel Chavez into a CVS parking lot after he was in a car accident. In the parking lot, officer Mark Schifflett sicced his K-9 on Chavez, who died two days later from his wounds.

Police pinned Freddie Washington to the floor using their arms and knees for several minutes. They handcuffed him and put him in a restraint device called “the WRAP.” Fully immobilized, Washington asked for tea to drink, and several officers smirked and mocked him. Police hoisted Washington onto a gurney and he yelled as his cuffed wrists were driven into its surface. That is the moment Isaac Ibarra finally decided to offer Washington his tea, but he ultimately withheld it.

This small, sadistic gesture captures the heart of the incident. Throughout the arrest, Freddie Washington refused to surrender his dignity or his right to decide. And while police cited charges like “trespass” and “defrauding an innkeeper” to justify the violence, the truth is that the racist violence speaks for itself. It also speaks to the larger trend of police violence against Black people in the U.S. In California alone in 2025, Black people were 55% times more likely to be killed by police than white people, and Washington’s arrest resembled countless other police crimes that emerged before, during and after the George Floyd Rebellion.

Santa Ana City Attorney Sonia Carvalho said the city would release more records on or about July 8. These records should include materials related to Washington’s in-custody death on January 16, 2025. But SAPD has not released additional records. If it continues its pattern of delaying the release of records, Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) and the Peace and Justice Law Center will resume with the lawsuit.

CSO OC fights for families impacted by police violence and for community control of the police. The fact that the community had to threaten a lawsuit to get more clarity on Freddie Washington’s death reflects SAPD’s culture of impunity, but it also shows the power and necessity of taking action ourselves. The community should also have the right to decide how officers are disciplined for misconduct and excessive use of force, especially when they have histories of violence. In the meantime, you can help support the family of Freddie Washington by donating here.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OrangeCounty #CSOOC #CSO #FreddieWashington #InjusticeSystem

Edwin Salazar of the Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS) stated, “If it’s him this week, is it going to be us next? Who's going to be next?”

Salazar continued “We’re angry, we’re upset. But we can continue to show up consistently every single month, every single week, every single day. We’re supporting our immigrant communities here in San Jose, in California, in America!”

Uriel Magdaleno, a member of CSO San Jose, read a statement by the Legalization for All Network in which he gives details on the unjust pursuit Salgado-Araujo faced by ICE agents. Magdaleno stated “ICE agents had no jurisdiction to perform local traffic stops. They lie and this is what they use to justify an ICE agent opening fire and shooting Salgado-Araujo in the stomach.”

Magdaleno later brought up a case in which ICE, in Texas, took a life in a similar manner, stating, “On February 24, 2026, 23-year-old Ruben-Ray Martinez, a Chicano U.S. citizen, was shot and killed during a traffic stop. Shame!” Magdaleno finished off his speech chanting, “Justice for Lorenzo” and “Hands off Nadia!”

Kim Cortéz-Solorio with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization told the crowd, “The monopoly capitalist class is set on attacking the Chicano nation and continues to use ICE as its primary means of carrying out their brutality against Chicanos and immigrants.”

Cortéz-Solorio continued, “Centro CSO members Nadia Topete and Alejandro Orellana are trying to be silenced by [Assistant U.S. Attorney] Bill Essayli. We stand in solidarity and say protesting is not a crime!”

The rally ended with chanting that showed solidarity with those who were martyred by ICE. Kim Cortez-Solorio and Jessica Aviles led chants including, “Justice for Lorenzo,” “Justice For Renee” and “ICE out!” The chanting was followed by a group called Singing Solidarity who brought community members together by singing at the end of the action.

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #KillerICE #InJusticeSystem #ICE #CSOSanJose

Crockett, CA – On Monday, July 13, members and allies of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 6 turned out in force for a picket at the C&H Sugar Factory in Crockett. This is the fifth week of an all-hands strike in protest of bad-faith bargaining offered by C&H.

Chants of “Union power!” and “Contract now!” rang out across the factory gates as workers marched en masse to the entrance, undeterred by vans full of scabs and private security. In addition, picketers demanded justice for the “Negros Nineteen,” who were massacred on April 19 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Among those killed were labor organizers Lyle Prijoles and Kai Sorem, from the San Francisco Bay Area and Washington state, respectively.

ILWU Local 6 is fighting aggressive cuts to sick leave, retiree healthcare and seniority benefits proposed by C&H, as well as refusing to unload a cargo ship of “blood sugar” brought from the Philippines. Throughout its history since its foundation in 1934, Local 6 has engaged in multiple rounds of militant struggle including five strikes, and 2026 is no exception.

Coordinated actions by workers and allies have repeatedly prevented the delivery of sugar at two separate ports in Richmond and Crockett. Picketers have operated on land and sea to actively deny factory access to scab workers and prevent the ship from docking, including a “floating picket” conducted when bosses tried to sneak the ship to another port using tugboats in the dead of night. In more than a month, just 25% of the sugar has been unloaded at a non-union port in Richmond, where it sits in open storage exposed to motor oil, animal feces and other contaminants.

“The labor movement is the last best chance for most Americans,” said Harvey Schwartz, labor historian and 57-year veteran reporter for the ILWU Dispatcher. “I'm optimistic about union leadership, and we have a lot of very strong young workers.” Chanting intensified as black vans drove past the picket line, bringing scabs hired by C&H bosses to desperately maintain production. Meanwhile, workers organized a screen with their backs and signs to prevent scab security from filming the faces of picketers.

Addressing the crowd, ILWU International Vice President Brandon Wolff said, “This is what it means to be part of a real union, a real family, and a real community. What's important to me is these 75 and 80-year-old people at home right now, wondering if they're gonna be able to get their diabetic medicine, wondering if they're gonna be able to get their flu shots, because this fucking company canceled their health benefits!”

“Brothers and sisters of Local 6, we got you!” Wolff continued. “From the top to the bottom to everywhere in between, from Alaska, to San Diego, to Hawaii and Australia, we've got a lot of international support coming in, we got you! So Local 6 and their counsel, go give 'em hell!” The crowd roared out in response and formed ranks to march on the bosses.

Over 200 people representing a multitude of different working-class organizations stood together in solidarity, including allied labor unions, political parties, and other groups. They included other ILWU Locals 142 (Hawaii) and 29 (San Diego), United Educators of San Francisco (UESF), Gabriela, Bayan, Kapit-Bisig Unyonista LA, Bay Area Tenant and Neighborhood Councils (TANC), Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), International League of People's Struggles (ILPS), East Bay Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and many more.

ILWU Local 6's strike continues into its fifth week, with workers committed to doing whatever it takes to secure a decent contract.

#CrockettCA #CA #Labor #ILWU #Strike #ThePhillippines #ILPS #Bayan #Gabriela #Featured

San Jose, CA – On Wednesday, July 8, around two dozen people rallied at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library against Trump’s relaunching of the U.S. war against Iran.

Signs depicting children murdered in the Minab school bombing by the U.S. were laid out on the steps in from of the library. Protesters held signs saying, “No war on Iran” and “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.”

Donna Wallach of San Jose Against War spoke to the crowd about how popular opinion is against the ongoing war in Iran, saying, “The great majority of Americans do not support this horrible, horrendous attack on Iran.”

Sharat Lin, board member of Human Agenda and the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, emphasized that the U.S. has always been the aggressor nation in the conflict, saying that the U.S. “must stop sabotaging the MOU. Stop trying to dominate the rest of the world. Stop trying to dominate Iran!”

Jack McCann, member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, highlighted that Trump has no geopolitical leverage against Iran, yet continually lashes out. He said, “As Iran remains steadfast, Trump has two options: lose quietly or lose loudly and he’s choosing the latter.”

The chanting crowd drew supportive honks throughout the action.

#SanJoseCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #Iran

Santa Ana, CA – On July 8, over 50 Chicanos rallied outside a federal courthouse in support of Nadia Topete, a Chicana immigrant rights activist with Centro CSO who was inside with a grand jury. Just days before, on July 1, federal agents showed up to Nadia's home with another grand jury subpoena, threatening that, if she did not appear, she could be held in contempt.

Nadia Topete walked out the federal courthouse with her head up high and stated she had exercised her Fifth Amendment right. She was greeted by chants of “Hands off Nadia Topete,” “Chinga la migra” and “DOJ hands off Nadia!” that were loud enough to be heard inside the federal building.

“Protesting ICE is not a crime!” said Verita Topete, Nadia’s sister and fellow Chicana organizer. “Our communities are stronger than Trump and the DOJ’s ruling class interests. The targeting of Nadia is a pattern of political repression from the federal government.”

Jasia Topete, older sister of both Nadia and Verita, stated, “Today was a very moving gesture of unity and support for my baby sister, Nadia. Seeing the tremendous support she has gained on a national level through the calls to action online by different organizations was very heartening to see. Witnessing how many people took the time to come out and show her love was very heart warming and reassuring to our family. We know she did nothing wrong. Amplifying the voices of our people is not a crime. She will continue to hold her head high like the confident resilient that she is. Nadia, we love you, Thank you so much to everyone that is rooting for Nadia!”

Mick Kelly of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression told the crowd, “I would like to salute Nadia, a woman of uncommon courage who is standing up for all of us. This will certainly not end here. We will stand with Nadia every inch of the way.”

Emiliano Martin Del Campo, member of Centro CSO, stated, “I see this attack from the DOJ and the Trump administration as not only a direct attack on our sister Nadia but a direct blow to all of us fighting against this administration. An attack on one is an attack on all!”

Speakers from Centro CSO, CSO OC, CLUE, ILPS, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Legalization for All spoke in defense of Topete, condemning the political repression of Immigrant Rights activists.

It is unclear what is next, but if the DOJ witch hunt continues, Centro CSO and their allies will be ready to defend their own, Nadia Topete, a daughter of Aztlan.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #GrandJury #PoliticalRepression #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #NadiaTopete #CSFR #Featured

The biggest surprise of the jobs numbers was the loss of 55,000 jobs in hotels and restaurants. This was the biggest loss since the COVID pandemic in 2020. Many economists questioned this figure, given the tourism for the FIFA World Cup soccer games. But tourism, and thus employment in hotels and restaurants, has been declining under the Trump administration, while increasing in the rest of the world. Trump’s repeated claim to want to make Canada a U.S. state, his restrictions on travel visas, and harassment of tourists at U.S. borders and airports have made the United States a less desirable destination. U.S. hotels reported room booking during FIFA World Cup was below expectations, and some even said bookings were below usual summer rates.

An early sign of the impact of artificial intelligence or AI on jobs was the continued drop in information technology jobs. 9000 jobs were lost in this sector, marking the 17th time in the last 18 months jobs have been lost. Job losses in information technology and finance, which are almost all white-collar jobs most susceptible to AI replacement, have accelerated this year. In 2026, an average of more than 20,000 jobs were lost each month in these two industries.

While the unemployment rate ticked down in June to 4.2% from 4.3% in May, this was mainly because more than 700,000 workers dropped out of the labor force. This happens when jobless workers stop looking for work and are not counted as unemployed. Without this, the unemployment rate would have gone up in June to 4.5%.

Latino workers were hit especially hard, as their unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in June from 5.0% in May. At the same time, their labor force participation rate fell from 67.2% to 66%. If Latinos who dropped out of the labor force were counted as unemployed, their unemployment rate would have risen to 6.4%.

Wage growth for production and non-supervisory workers grew 3.4% from June last year, significantly behind the 4.4% increase in prices for the same workers as reported in June. The June inflation report will come out on July 14.

#SanJoseCA #CA #CapitalismAndEconomy #Jobs #Unemployment

Santa Ana, CA – On the morning of July 8, immigrant rights activist Nadia Topete went before a grand jury at the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse. Topete was inside for a short time before reappearing out of the courthouse to state that she exercised her Fifth Amendment right to stay silent.

The crowd of over 50 supporters from Los Angeles and Orange County cheered her on, chanting, “DOJ: Hands off Nadia!” and “What do we want? Hands off Nadia! When do we want it? Now!”

Nadia Topete is a 21-year-old who twice had FBI agents show up at her door. Topete is a proud Chicana and immigrant rights activist. She has done nothing wrong and continues mobilizing to beat the attacks the Trump administration is enacting on immigrants.

Among those gathered outside were members of Centro CSO in Los Angeles and CSO Orange County. Others present were also with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Gabriela – LA, ILPS, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), and others.

“We applaud the tremendous strength of my sister Nadia Topete and will be ready to fight back for her if she is summoned once again,” said Verita Topete, a member of Centro CSO and chair of the CSO immigration committee.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OrangeCounty #LosAngelesCA #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #GrandJury #CentroCSO #Featured