Santa Ana, CA – 28 people, including residents of Coach Royal Mobile Home Park, families impacted by police killings, and members of Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC), flooded Santa Ana City Council on Tuesday, May 19.

Outside the chamber, CSO OC’s Immigration Committee rallied to demand Kingsley Corporation get out of Coach Royal Mobile Home Park.

Inside the chamber, CSO’s Police Accountability Committee delivered their petition demanding that Santa Ana Police Department Officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra be fired for killing Noe Rodriguez. May 19 was the anniversary of Rodriguez’s birthday.

Coach Royal resident Karla Alvarado said, “We had our rent stabilization meeting almost a month ago, and we are asking for the video of that event, and the city is trying to deny us access to it!” At that meeting, Kingsley denied residents access to Spanish interpretation or designated witnesses, and they barred observers from entering the meeting. But protests from residents forced city staff to “realize” that residents were entitled to these rights.

“¡Fuera Kingsley! ¡Fuera Kingsley!” chants were heard inside the chamber as people outside rallied. Santa Ana city staff tried drowning them out by raising the volume of the outdoor TV, but these backfired and caused residents to shout even louder.

Inside the chamber, Mayor Valerie Amezcua tried to silence the people, reading the city attorney’s statement which said there was nothing the city could do about Kingsley Corporation. Boos from the audience interrupted her. Threatening to stop the meeting, Amezcua slandered Coach Royal residents, claiming without evidence that they “had turned to making threats and acting physically aggressive with our city staff.”

Then the city council voted to limit public comment to one minute. Boos filled the chamber as Councilmembers Valerie Amezcua, Jessie Lopez, Phil Bacerra and Thai Viet Phan voted to silence the public.

CSO OC member Matthew Compton said, “You guys are really fucking scared of the Coach Royal people, and it’s really fucking shameful that you decided to cut it to one minute. Including you, Jessie! The Arzolas are sitting right there and they saw your bullshit. They canvassed for you and they supported you.”

The family of Albert Arzola, who was killed by Anaheim PD officer Nathan Garcia on December 1, 2025, has supported Lopez’s State Assembly run for weeks, because her opponent, Santa Ana Councilmember David Penaloza, is a loyal servant of the police.

Erika Armenta, the widow of Noe Rodriguez, approached the podium. On either side of her, CSO OC members held signs showing hundreds of petition signatures. As of May 21st, the petition stood at 638 signatures. It can be signed here.

Armenta said, “It has now been 504 days since December 1, 2024, since Officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra took the life of my daughters' father, Noe Rodriguez, in a hail of bullets; yet you have done nothing to fire them – you only seek excuses. The mayor, in particular, takes it upon herself to protect them, publicly offering her support to these so-called ‘peace officers’ without regard for the pain this causes us, those of us who have lost a loved one.”

Armenta held her phone to the microphone and shared a recording of her daughter’s voice. Her daughter said, “I am sad because today, it is my father’s birthday and I cannot hug him. I am frustrated because they stole his life, and the ones who did this continue to walk free.” Armenta held up a painting as the recording continued, “I made this drawing to remember his beautiful memory.”

As Armenta spoke, Councilmember Thai Viet Phan stared into space and ate yogurt.

David Pulido, a CSO OC member, said, “We are here today to present the early results of our petition for Justice for Noe Rodriguez.” Pulido continued, saying “Today would have been his birthday! And you robbed that time from him!” As the city cut his microphone, Pulido demanded Police Chief Robert Rodriguez fire the killer cops and led chants of “Luis Casillas? Lock him up! Isaac Ibarra? Lock him up!” Chants filled the chamber and the audience drowned out the mayor, forcing her to wait.

Guadalupe Barragan, a Coach Royal resident who has been fighting against Kingsley’s abuse for years, countered the mayor’s slanderous statement about Coach Royal residents. She pointed directly at Amezcua and said, “Hopefully you have proof of everything you just said, making accusations of my family! You know me, that we are working-class people. Yes, we are angry! Because Kingsley has been stealing our homes!”

CSO OC member Diana Terreros took the mic, saying, “It’s a shame that you are trying to slander the Coach Royal residents and saying that they’re threatening city staff. We have a video that shows that during their hearing, city staff was trying to put hands on them and trying to push out their supporters.” Terreros said, “You guys keep telling them to sue Kingsley, to submit their petitions, and do this and that on an individual basis. What we’re asking is for this to be treated as the systemic issue that it is. Everywhere that Kingsley is across the country, these issues are happening. It will not be solved by an individual lawsuit. Shame on you guys for doing absolutely nothing!”

As the public was leaving, city staff shamefully served Karla Alvarado a restraining order filed by a city staff employee named Maricela Marquez, who was present at the April 29 Rent Stabilization Division meeting. Alvarado will appear in court on May 29.

These attacks will not stop CSO OC from fighting alongside the people. We demand Kingsley out of Santa Ana! We demand killer cops Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra be fired!

#SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #CSOOC #Housing

Oakland, CA – On May 12, around 20 Oakland city workers, activists and community members mobilized to City Hall in support of civilians taking over the 38 administrative jobs currently occupied by the Oakland Police Department (OPD).

The push to attend the city council’s finance committee and to make public comment was called for by the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 21, a union representing hundreds of city workers. While workers experience staffing vacancies and budget cuts, OPD overspent up to $33 million a year for the past six years on overtime, with 6% of its force behind desks. The union demands change as the city enters contract negotiations with the Oakland Police Officers’ Association.

“The single biggest overtime expense was half a million dollars for one individual for crash reports, something that should be civilianized,” remarked Kevin Dally, an Oakland resident.

“Oakland should not be discussing cuts to services until you have replaced officers in administrative jobs with regular city staff,” said Romaine Charite, a member of the Oakland Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. “These are issues that the police union does not want you to act on. Please start listening to Oaklanders, like me, instead of the police union.”

Eliot Goodrich, a transportation planner and member of IFPTE Local 21, spoke on the 23-year-old federal consent decree over OPD after a scandal involving racist police gangs kidnapping, beating and falsely arresting Black and brown residents, stating, “Of the 38 positions identified, 22 are in Internal Affairs. OPD is still under federal oversight, the Negotiated Settlement Agreement is a legally binding agreement with the city, made to 119 Oaklanders who had their civil rights violated.”

Anne Jenks, with the Coalition for Police Accountability, said, “The city council failed for a year to follow up after instructing the city administrator to begin the process of moving investigations from OPD Internal Affairs to the independent Community Review Police Agency. The administrator did nothing until the deadline approached.”

The Community Review Police Agency is the investigative arm of the Oakland Police Commission, which is named one of the strongest civilian police oversight boards in the country and was voted in by Oaklanders to get OPD under control.

#OaklandCA #CA #PoliceAccountability #InjusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #OppressedNationalities

San Jose, CA – On May 16, around 150 people gathered at the Santa Clara County Government Center to celebrate the county’s 25th annual Palestinian Cultural Day. The event, sponsored by the county supervisors and the Palestinian Heritage Committee, celebrates the 30,000 Palestinian-Americans living in Santa Clara County and their contributions to the South Bay community.

The event began with the raising of the Palestinian and American flags in front of the County Building, as each country’s national anthem played.

The opening speaker was Samir Laymoun, longtime Palestinian community leader and lead organizer of Palestinian Cultural Day since its inception. “A trauma passed down through every single generation. Today our hearts break because the violence has reached a terrifying depth. Israel is not just taking Palestinian lives. It is trying to kill the very soul of Palestine.”

Laymoun continued, “The deliberate destruction of schools and universities aims to silence our children's dreams. This is a cruel attempt to make us forget and erase our history. Here in California, Palestinian students' stories and history of Palestine are censored in K-12 under vague controversial issue policies and laws such as AB 715.”

16-year-old Mariam Al-Tamimi spoke about her personal experiences with this censorship at her

high school. Al-Tamimi wrote an article for her school newspaper about underrepresented students, including Palestinian students. “The moment that I mentioned Palestine in the article, the Zionists in my class immediately pushed back, ready to silence me, as if my article wasn't already advocating for those who are silenced. They complained endlessly to the principal until the principal finally decided to take out the article, which I had worked on for weeks, in mere seconds.”

“However, this didn't silence me. Instead, I was determined to publish my article. “I was able to publish my article in the Silicon Valley Voice, a professional newspaper,” Al-Tamimi continued. “That moment made me realize that they wouldn't work so hard to silence us if we didn't matter.”

Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Jennifer Zacharia stated, “Civil rights laws created to protect the most vulnerable and marginalized among us are being distorted and wielded as well. These attacks on our schools, wrapped in a misrepresentation of antisemitism, are naked efforts to silence both Palestinians and advocates for our liberation. These measures aim to criminalize teaching our history, impugn and make suspect our identity and culture, and quell dissent about the occupation, apartheid, and genocide that define how Zionism has been enacted on the lives and bodies of Palestinians.”

Zacharia continued, “We are dehumanized and told that our existence can only take muted, quiet, hollow shapes that don't offend those who work tirelessly to negate us. But we are still here. We are building institutions and solidarity, and we are cultivating hope and imagination.”

The event concluded with a performance by Al-Juthoor Dabke, with attendees joining in at the end to dance together.

#SanJoseCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine

San Jose, CA – On May 15, over 50 people in downtown San Jose to commemorate the 78th year since Al Nakba, “The Catastrophe,” where 750,000 Palestinians were violently displaced by Zionist forces for the establishment of the apartheid state of Israel.

Chants included, “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” Protesters held signs reading, “We will not be complicit, San Jose divest from genocide” and “Silicon Valley has blood on their hands.”

Haddy Barghouti of Students for Justice in Palestine at San Jose State University spoke to the crowd about the fearful existence that he and his family endured in Palestine. He implored the crowd, “We cannot stay silent. We have to continue using our voices, telling our stories and speaking for the [Palestinian] people who are living in fear every day.”

Dyon Capote of Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America addressed the crowd, “Nakba Day should not just be a commemoration but also an acknowledgment of the tribulations the Palestinians have endured but they have never given up their dreams of a free Palestine and neither should we!”

Dina Saba, president of Democrats for Palestinian Rights, highlighted the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars sent to uphold Israel, saying, “78 years of our hard-earned money funding Israel’s atrocities!”

Jack McCann from San Jose Against War commended the brave Palestinian resistance and emphasized that the struggle is local as well, saying, “It is our duty here, in the belly of the beast, to honor their sacrifice, to join in the BDS movement and to fight for a free Palestine!”

McCann continued, “This is why San Jose Against War is waging a struggle at city council, demanding an end to complicity in the crimes of the genocidal Zionist entity. Until we succeed, there is blood on our hands, especially council members who recently voted not to divest from Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon: George Casey, Michael Mulcahey, David Cohen, and Anthony Tordillos. Shame!”

Drusie Kazanova of FRSO San Jose said, “The people of Palestine and their allies have not given up in their fight for national liberation, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization stands with them!”

Kazanova continued drawing the connection between the working and oppressed people in the U.S. and the oppressed people of Palestine, saying, “[We] share the same enemy: the U.S. imperialists. The FRSO is committed to the call for an independent Palestine. We are marching today and we will march every Nakba Day until Palestine is finally free!”

Salem Ajlouni, board member of Human Agenda, stated, “A free Palestine is part of the struggle for a just U.S.”

Fadi Saba, a Palestinian-American teacher, stated, “Gaza and Palestine is the moral compass of the world. It is ‘Free Palestine’ until Palestine is free.”

The protest began at the Dr. MLK Jr. library and marched through the streets of downtown to a busy pedestrian corridor, San Pedro Square, to chant loudly and continue the program before marching back to the library.

#SanJoseCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #SJAW #Palestine

Santa Ana, CA – En la mañana del 29 de abril, gritos de “¡Fuera Kingsley!” resonaron afuera de la sala donde se reunía la División de Estabilización de Alquileres (RSD, por sus siglas en inglés). Los residentes del parque de casas móviles Coach Royal, junto con miembros de la Organización de Servicio Comunitario del Condado de Orange (CSO OC), tuvieron una conferencia de prensa antes de una audiencia con la RSD. Desde hace años, los residentes han sufrido abusos y acoso por parte de Kingsley Management Corporation, los propietarios del parque.

Kingsley ha tomado represalias, mediante desalojos injustos, contra aquellos residentes que se alzan en contra de su abuso de poder. La RSD tenía programado escuchar 18 peticiones relacionadas con estos desalojos injustos.

“¡Si gana Kingsley, pierden los inmigrantes!”, gritó Karla Alvarado, antes de dar inicio al evento con un emotivo testimonio. “He sido residente durante 28 años y fui desalojada; no por mala conducta ni por deber renta, sino porque quieren demostrarnos que se nos castiga por alzar la voz”.

Alvarado exigió justicia para todos los residentes que han sido desalojados mediante tácticas coercitivas y engañosas, declarando, “¡Queremos justicia en nuestra ciudad; nuestra gente está sufriendo! Kingsley les entrega a los residentes que hablan español documentos en inglés y, además, los presiona para que firmen bajo coacción. ¡Esto tiene que parar!”

Guadalupe Barragán, residente y activista de larga trayectoria en la defensa de los derechos de los inquilinos, tomó el micrófono para expresar sus demandas. “Lo que queremos hacer esta mañana es pedirles, nuevamente, pedirles al gobierno de la ciudad que nos ayuden, ya que hemos sido acosados, amenazados, abusados, robados, inclusive habido muertes en el parque de Kingsley. ¡Queremos que los funcionarios de la ciudad de Santa Ana nos ayuden a sacar a la corporación Kingsley!”.

El residente Julián Orozco compartió su experiencia con las tácticas de intimidación de Kingsley: “Se suponía que iba a recibir el título de mi casa después de cumplir el contrato y enviarles un giro postal de $300. Una semana después me dijeron que había sido un error e intentaron hacer un contrato adicional por otros tres o cuatro años. Querían que lo firmara para que pagara más. Rob McDonald (personal de Kingsley) se presentó en mi casa queriendo intimidarme para que firmara los papeles”.

Un miembro de CSO OC cerró la conferencia de prensa exigiendo la salida de Kingsley y solicitando la ayuda de los funcionarios gubernamentales para detener este abuso sistemático. Exigió justicia para Maria Pedraza, una ex residente de Coach Royal que se quitó la vida a consecuencia de los abusos sufridos a manos de Kingsley.

Mientras los residentes entraban al edificio para dar comienzo a la audiencia, los miembros de CSO OC continuaron gritando, “¡Fuera Kingsley! ¡Si gana Kingsley, el pueblo pierde!”.

Una vez dentro, el abogado de Kingsley, Ariel Badell, solicitó que se retirara de la sala los simpatizantes de los residentes, incluidos miembros de CSO OC, CHISPA, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (C.L.U.E.) y Tenants United Anaheim (TUA). Dos funcionarios municipales se pusieron del lado de Kingsley. Tras la oposición de los simpatizantes, quienes citaron la Ordenanza de Estabilización de Alquileres, se determinó que los testigos tenían el derecho legal de estar presentes en la sala, por lo que permanecieron sentados.

Mientras se desarrollaba esta situación, llegaron vehículos del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional a la entrada del edificio. Se desconoce quién realizó la llamada, pero tanto los residentes como sus simpatizantes consideraron que se trataba de una táctica de intimidación, dado que muchos de los residentes son inmigrantes.

Al dar comienzo la audiencia, no ofrecieron servicios de interpretación a los peticionarios, a pesar de que muchos de los residentes eran hablantes monolingües de español. Los simpatizantes presentes solicitaron a los funcionarios municipales que facilitaran servicios de interpretación. El equipo legal de Kingsley se negó a proporcionar servicios de interpretación para su equipo, argumentando, Badell declaró que “legalmente no están obligados a ofrecer servicios de interpretación”. Los simpatizantes continuaron abogando por los peticionarios y exigieron que se les brindaran servicios de interpretación hasta que los funcionarios de la ciudad finalmente aceptaron.

Más tarde, cuando un concejal y una reportera intentaron observar la audiencia, el equipo de Badell intentó expulsar al funcionario y a los medios de comunicación. Ella amenazó con demandar a la ciudad por su participación y afirmó que la audiencia se estaba “convirtiendo en un circo”. Después de revisar las políticas y procedimientos de la audiencia de peticiones, los funcionarios municipales determinaron que, en efecto, la reportera y el funcionario electo tenían permitido estar presentes en la audiencia.

En general, los funcionarios de la ciudad de Santa Ana permitieron inicialmente que el equipo de Kingsley Management Corporation intentara impedir que los peticionarios ejercieran sus derechos durante la audiencia, como el acceso a servicios de interpretación, la presencia de testigos y el ingreso de observadores a la sala de audiencias.

La ciudad de Santa Ana se mantiene cómplice de las prácticas abusivas de Kingsley Management Corporation de atropellar las audiencias y las negociaciones de acuerdos de los residentes de Coach Royal. Solo se escucharon ocho de las 18 peticiones presentadas. Los residentes de Coach Royal recibirán el veredicto de sus audiencias en 30 días.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #Housing #PeoplesStruggles

The increase in the PPI means that consumer prices will be heading even higher in the future. For example, the price of diesel fuel, used in trucking, farm and warehouse equipment, was up 12.6% in just one month, adding to the cost of food and almost all goods that are shipped by trucks. The wholesale cost of transport by truck rose 8.1% in April as compared to March. Air freight costs also rose, but by a “smaller” amount of 3.6% for the month.

Major companies such as Whirlpool, a maker of appliances, announced a 10% price increase in April, and another 4% to be imposed in July.

Parts of the PPI report also feed into the Personal Consumption Expenditure, or PCE, price report that is coming out May 28. The PCE price index is the inflation measure followed by the Federal Reserve Bank, which traditionally raises interest rates when inflation rises.

With inflation rising, bond prices are falling, since inflation erodes the fixed interest payments that bonds pay. This means that the interest rate on bonds is going up; for example, the ten-year U.S. Treasury bond before the war on Iran was 4.02%, and it is now 4.46%. The ten-year U.S. Treasury bond is a benchmark that impacts other loan interest rates. For example, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage was just below 6% right before the war started, is now at 6.45%. Rising mortgage interest rates mean larger loan payments, reducing even more the affordability of buying a home.

#SanJoseCA #CA #CapitalismAndEconomy #Inflation

The rising costs of energy drove the increase in prices, on the backs of higher fuel prices as a result of Trump’s war on Iran. Gasoline prices were up 28.4% over a year ago. Electricity rates were up 6.1% from a year ago.

These higher prices mean that the purchasing power of workers’ incomes, or what economists call real income, fell in April as compared to March, and also fell compared to a year ago. Using another measure of prices paid by workers, the CPI-W, real wages or hourly earnings fell 0.3% in April from March, and fell 0.2% as compared to a year ago.

There were also signs that higher fuel and energy prices are spreading to goods and services that use a lot of energy to produce. With diesel fuel prices up over 60% from a year ago according to the AAA (American Automobile Association), transportation costs are showing up in the higher prices for food, up 0.5% in April as compared to no increase in March. Airline fares have soared, up more than 20% as compared to April 2025, as jet fuel prices have almost doubled.

While economists often refer to the “core” rate of inflation, which takes out food and energy costs as they are more variable month to month, this means that the actual rate of inflation for lower and middle income households is actually greater than the headline (total) inflation, since those consumers spend more of their income on necessities like food, gasoline and electricity.

With Trump polling at all-time lows, with 70% of people disapproving of him on the economy, Congress is proposing to suspend the federal gasoline tax. However, the tax is only 18 cents a gallon, or about 4% of the current national average price. But with gasoline up more than 40% since the war started, this would at most offset 10% of the increase. Further, the gasoline tax is an excise tax that the seller pays, so there is no way to ensure that the gasoline sellers pass on the tax cut to drivers.

With no end in sight to the war that is blocking the flow of oil, gas, fertilizer, sulfur (used in industry) and helium (used in a lot of tech industries), higher prices are likely to spread to more and more goods and services.

#SanJoseCA #CA #CapitalismAndEconomy #Inflation #Featured

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The employment report, based on a survey of businesses, was strong relative to the weak hiring in 2025, with 115,000 new jobs created. There were still pockets of weakness, with government jobs declining by 8000, making April the seventh month in a row of job losses by government workers. Manufacturing also lost jobs, down by 2000 jobs.

However, the survey of households showed more weakness, with the labor force participation rate declining by 0.1%. Without this decline, the unemployment rate would have gone up. The unemployment rate was also held down by a big jump in self-employed workers, many of whom, like rideshare drivers, are really a new type of temp workers. Last, but not least, the broadest measure of unemployment, which includes people who gave up looking for work and people working part-time who can’t find full-time jobs, rose to the highest this year, at 8.2%.

Workers’ compensation, including wages, benefits and taxes paid by the employer, rose 3.1% in the first three months of the year (January to March) according to another BLS report issued Thursday, May 7. But prices rose even faster, meaning that real compensation, or the purchasing power of workers’ wages and benefits, actually fell by one half of one percent, or 0.5%, during these same three months.

This meant that the share of total output in the economy that goes to workers was only 54.1% in the first quarter, the lowest since these records began almost 80 years ago, in 1947. With more of the share of the economy going to corporate profits, rent, interest and small business income, it is no wonder that more and more people feel that the rich are getting richer, and the poor poorer.

The growing divide between haves and have-nots can also be seen in the contrast between the latest Consumer Sentiment report by the University of Michigan and the booming stock market. The Consumer Sentiment report, which covers the period of April 21 to May 4, fell to an all-time low of 48.2. This drop reflected consumers’ expectation of inflation to rise. Expectations are that inflation will jump over the next year from 3.3% over the last 12 months to 4.5% over the next 12 months. This will further reduce the purchasing power of workers’ wages.

In contrast, the stock market, as measured by the broad S&P 500 Index, is at an all-time high. The stock market is being driven by corporate profits and the fast-growing wealth of those at the top. In particular, semiconductor chip stocks have risen to about 15% of total stock market value, even higher than during the 2000 dot-com stock market bubble.

How have sales and business profits held up with so many working-class households struggling amid soaring gasoline prices? On one hand, more and more consumer spending is based on high-income households as the economic divide in terms of income and wealth continues to grow. On the other hand, lower and middle income households, mainly the working class, are borrowing more to make ends meet. The Federal Reserve report on consumer credit, released yesterday, May 7, shows that credit card borrowing increased at the fastest rate since the last bout of inflation, in 2022.

#SanJoseCA #CA #CapitalismAndEconomy #Jobs #Unemployment #Featured

San Jose, CA – On May 7, dozens of community members gathered at Hillview Branch Library for a panel discussion led by rank-and-file union members and organizers about the state of the labor movement in the South Bay.

The panel members included Ariya Amin of San Jose Teachers Association; Armando Barbosa of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265; Nancy Mendoza of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, and Philip Nguyen of Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Service Employees International Union Local 521.

The discussion centered around the importance of unions, local struggles against school and store closures, ICE, and the fight against the Trump administration’s attacks on workers.

“Unions are essential to us harnessing our collective power. We will always be up against forces that are opposed to that, so it is essential to be organized,” said Amin, “As teachers, our working conditions directly affect our students. We not only advocate for ourselves, but our students and their families.”

“The union is important because it gives the working class a voice at the table,” stated Barbosa, “We think about entering into a labor non-physical warfare, because that’s what we’re really up against. We are in battle. The contract is our sword and our shop stewards are our defense mechanisms.”

Nancy Mendoza highlighted the effects of the Trump administration on organizing Cardenas grocery store workers, “Cardenas workers, a lot of them came on a parole visa, so they all got laid off. Trump suspended their visas and they were unable to work.”

Cardenas, however, took advantage of the situation to circumvent the union’s organizing efforts. Mendoza added, “Cardenas grocery store tells the workers that we work with ICE. That’s a big one, so now we’re giving them cards for Know Your Rights and we’re holding classes for them to attend so they know their rights for when they face ICE.”

The event concluded with a short Q and A session and opportunities to socialize.

#SanJoseCA #CA #Labor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Santa Ana, CA – On the morning of April 29, chants of “Fuera Kingsley!” rang outside the room where the Rent Stabilization Division (RSD) was meeting. Coach Royal mobile home park residents, alongside members from Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC), held a press conference before a hearing with the RSD. The residents have been facing abuse and harassment from Kingsley Management Corporation, the owners of the park, for years.

Kingsley has retaliated against residents who stand up against their abuse of power with unjust evictions. The RSD was scheduled to hear 18 petitions regarding these unjust evictions.

“If Kingsley wins, immigrants lose!” chanted Karla Alvarado, before kicking off the event with an emotional testimony. “I have been a resident for 28 years and I was evicted, not for misbehaving or owing rent, but because they wanted to show us we get punished for speaking up.”

Alvarado demanded justice for all residents who have been evicted through coercive and deceitful tactics, stating, “We want justice in our city, our people are hurting! Kingsley is giving the Spanish-speaking residents documents in English and also pressures them to sign under duress. This needs to stop!”

Guadalupe Barragan, longtime tenant rights activist and resident, got on the mic to state her demands. “What we are hoping to accomplish here today is to ask once again for city officials to help us, as we have been harassed, threatened, abused, robbed, and caused death! We want Santa Ana city officials to help us get Kingsley corporation out!”

Resident Julian Orozco shared his experience with Kingsley intimidation tactics: “I was supposed to get the title to my home after I had completed the contract and sent them a $300 money order. A week later they told me it had been a mistake and tried to do an additional contract for another three or four years. They tried to get me to sign it so that I would pay more. Rob McDonald [Kingsley staff], showed up at my house trying to intimidate me to sign the papers.”

A CSO OC member closed out the press conference demanding Kingsley get out and for help from government officials to stop this systemic abuse. He demanded justice for Maria Pedraza, a former Coach Royal resident who took her life due to the abuse at the hands of Kingsley.

As residents entered the building to begin the hearing, CSO OC members continued to chant, “Kingsley out! If Kingsley wins, the people lose!”

Once inside, Kingsley’s lawyer Ariel Badell motioned to have resident supporters removed from the chambers, including members from CSO OC, CHISPA, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (C.L.U.E.) and Tenants United Anaheim (TUA). Two city officials sided with Kingsley. After pushback from supporters citing the Rent Stabilization Ordinance , it was determined that witnesses were lawfully allowed to be present within the chamber and remained seated.

As this situation unfolded, Department of Homeland Security vehicles arrived just outside the building’s entrance. It is unknown who made the call, but residents and supporters believed it was used as an intimidation tactic, as many of the residents are immigrants.

As the hearing began, petitioners were not provided interpretation services despite many of the residents being monolingual Spanish speakers. Supporters present requested the city officials to provide interpretation services. Kingsley’s law team refused to provide interpretation services for their team, as Badell stated that they are “legally not obligated to provide interpretation services.” Supporters continued to advocate for the petitioners and demanded they receive interpretation services until city officials eventually accepted.

Later, as a city council member and reporter attempted to observe the hearing, Badell’s team attempted to remove the official and media. She threatened to sue the city for its involvement and claimed the hearing was “turning into a circus.” After reviewing the policies and procedures of the petition hearing, city officials ruled that the reporter and the elected city official were indeed allowed to be present at the hearing.

Overall, Santa Ana city officials initially allowed the Kingsley Management Corporation team to attempt to prevent the petitioners from exercising their rights within the hearing, such as access to interpretation services, allowing designated witnesses, and allowing for observers to enter the hearing room.

The city of Santa Ana remains complacent to Kingsley Management Corporation’s exploitative practices of steamrolling Coach Royal residents’ hearings and settlement negotiations. Only eight out of the 18 petitions were heard. The Coach Royal residents will receive the verdict of their hearings within 30 days.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #PeoplesStuggles #Housing CSOOC #CLUE #TUA

Last July, the Trump administration increased work requirements for people who are getting food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Since then, almost 3.5 million people have been dropped from SNAP, or 8% of the total. But in some states, such as Arizona, the number of people getting food aid fell by almost half.

This is despite the official government estimate that almost 50 million people, or almost 14% of households, are “food insecure,” meaning that they have to cut back on how much they eat, or reduce the quality of their food. This is even more severe among households with children, where 18% are considered food insecure.

When the Republican Congress did not extend federal subsidies for private health insurance that were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, premiums soared. People in Republican-led states that did not expand Medicaid – older people, those with middle incomes – were hit the hardest. Initial sign-ups fell by more than a million people, but millions more are being dropped after not paying the higher premiums, which could increase tenfold or more.

Before the cuts, 8% of Americans, or 27 million people, did not have any health insurance at all. Almost 40% of Americans depend on government health insurance, mainly Medicare (for seniors and disabled) and Medicaid (for lower incomes). In addition, there are the Veterans Administration and the subsidized ACA marketplace, which are also government funded. While statistics for this year and the impact of the cuts won’t be available until the fall of 2027, the number of Americans without any health insurance is rising.

Finally, foreclosures on homeowners still paying their mortgages rose 26% over a year ago, to the highest level in six years. In the first three months of 2026, almost 120,000 foreclosures were filed by lenders against homeowners who fell behind on their payments. Partly this is because of the end of mortgage protections for borrowers passed during COVID-19, but homeowners with mortgages are also under pressure from higher home insurance premiums and property taxes.

#SanJoseCA #CA #CapitalismAndEconomy

Los Ángeles, CA – En la mañana de abril 20, el movimiento contra los crímenes policiales en Los Ángeles ganó una gran victoria ya que un juez dictó que el caso civil de Joseph Perez contra la Ciudad de Los Ángeles iba a proceder. Docenas – principalmente chicanos, afroamericanos, e incluso coreanos que han sufrido violencia policial y están en las calles luchando en contra – llenaron el Juzgado Stanley Mosk para exigir justicia por Joseph Perez.

En 2020, Joseph Perez fue brutalmente golpeado por miembros de pandillas de ayudantes del sheriff usando el nombre “Indians” y quienes operaban desde la estación del Sheriff de City of Industry. Una pandilla de ayudantes de sheriff está conformada por oficiales policiales que participan en golpizas, plantar evidencia, e incluso ejecuciones extrajudiciales. Los oficiales pandilleros se identifican uno al otro con un tatuaje de la pandilla, el cual consiguen cometiendo crímenes en el fomento de su pandilla. Algunas pandillas como los “Banditos” de la subestación del Sheriff del Éste de los Ángeles y los “Executioners” de la subestación de Compton son conocidos a nivel nacional e incluso internacional por sus crímenes. Los Indians de Industry son bien conocidos por aquellos que aterrorizan pero son una de las pandillas más nuevas.

El Condado de LA quería que este caso civil fuera denegado pero Vanessa Perez, la madre de Joseph Perez, y sus defensores lucharon contra el condado. El juez dictó que el caso pasará a juicio en septiembre de 2027, una gran victoria y lo que Vanessa Perez quería.

El Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste! entrevistó a Vanessa Perez en los escalones del juzgado inmediatamente después del fallo.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: Estamos afuera del juzgado con Vanessa Perez, ¿puedes decirnos qué ocurrió hoy?

Vanessa Perez: El juez fue y acordó que avanzaremos al siguiente paso y volveremos a la corte por Joseph. El siguiente paso que vamos a conseguir es el descubrimiento y averiguaremos qué le hicieron a Joseph.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Lo que quieren es que el Condado de los Ángeles y el Departamento de Sheriff de Los Ángeles sean llevados a juicio por lo que le hicieron a Joseph?

Perez: Sí, básicamente. Queremos la verdad.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cómo se ve la justicia para usted?

Perez: Lo que le pedimos al juez hoy fue que dejara que el caso avanzara para mejor entender lo que le pasó a Joseph. Joseph es una persona de piel morena con problemas de desarrollo y de salud mental. Él es el tipo exacto de persona que es estadísticamente más probable de sufrir violencia policial en su vida. El sistema de justicia debería ser flexible con personas como Joseph para que estos casos puedan ser escuchados y la policía sea responsabilizada por abusar a personas vulnerables como mi hijo. Hoy estamos luchando por Joseph para que algo pueda terminar de forma diferente para otros como él, para que la próxima madre que llame al 911 buscando ayuda para su hijo en crisis no tenga que tener miedo de que algo terrible le pase como lo que le hicieron a Joseph. Vamos a continuar luchando adentro y afuera de este juzgado hasta que veamos que ese mundo sea una realidad.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Hay algo más que quisiera añadir?

Perez: Hemos estado intentando lo posible para conseguir justicia para Joseph Perez pero el sistema no está hecho para personas como él. En vez de recibir la asistencia física y mental que él necesitaba, pasó dos años encarcelado por la golpiza que recibió mientras que estos oficiales pandilleros están golpeando a otros niños allá afuera.

El oficial Shawn Merrick y el oficial Adam Nelson ambos son miembros confirmados de la pandilla Industry Indians. Ellos junto a sus aprendices Jake Adamo y Sabastian Pombal golpearon a Joseph Perez. También golpean a adolescentes jóvenes afuera de una bolera de Montclair donde los oficiales fueron arrestados y Merrick y Nelson admitieron ser parte de una pandilla. Estos cuatro agentes fueron despedidos. Vincent Rodriguez, Paul Saldana, y Abraham Rivera son otros oficiales que golpearon a Joseph Perez y siguen siendo policías.

Centro CSO – una organización comunitaria que lucha contra los crímenes policiales en Boyle Heights y el Este de los Ángeles – han apoyado a Vanessa Perez en su lucha por la justicia. En diciembre de 2025, hicieron historia juntos al tener la primera protesta afuera de la estación de Sheriff de Industry. Para seguir al tanto de esta lucha por la justicia, sigan a @JusticeforJosephPerez y @CentroCSO.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, May 1, 500 Chicano community members and activists gathered at Mariachi Plaza to rally and march for the 11th annual May Day protest in Boyle Heights. More than 50 different community organizations, unions and local businesses helped put on the event, and were joined by students who walked out of Roosevelt, Garfield and Ed Roybal high schools.

The organizations urged workers fight back, demanding legalization for all, an end to war and police brutality, and to fund public education.

This year’s May Day marks 20 years since the 2006 protests, La Gran Marcha, where millions of immigrants marched against the Sensenbrenner Bill (HR 4437), which aimed to criminalize undocumented immigrants.

“This is the 20-year anniversary to the 2006 mega-marches where Raza and a lot of working class immigrants walked off the job, didn’t go to school and shut the city down by taking the streets in downtown LA,” said Centro CSO immigration co-chair Verita Topete.

The event began with a blessing from Father Brendan from the Dolores Mission church, followed by a rally which included speakers from Centro CSO, Legalization for All, Proyecto Pastoral, About Face, Union De Vecinos, the People’s Care Collective, Immigo and Teamsters Local 396.

Sara Venegas, an Amazon driver who recently unionized with Teamsters Local 396 and then went on an unfair labor practice strike after Amazon retaliated against their union said, “They thought they could kill the fire in our hearts, but they’ve strengthened the flame, and now we’re on a ULP strike. Let’s hold big corporations like Amazon accountable.”

The group took to the streets to march across 1st Street Bridge, chanting “¡Se ve, se siente, el pueblo está presente!” and demands for legalization for all and an end to U.S. wars. As speakers from Black Lives Matter LA and Freedom Road Socialist Organization addressed the crowd, LAPD helicopters hovered above, telling the group to disperse and stop blocking traffic. The police also sent out an Amber Alert to everyone in the area stating that people should avoid the area because an “Unlawful assembly declared.”

Gabriel Quiroz Jr. from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization commented on the ongoing police violence against May Day protests from the Haymarket riots in Chicago, to the streets of Los Angeles today, “The first protest I ever attended was May Day in 2007 at MacArthur Park. I got to see the power of organized Raza. I also got to see political repression by LAPD.”

As the march turned back towards Boyle Heights, speakers from the Palestinian Youth Movement, ILPS, the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, and Gabriela LA spoke on the how U.S. imperialism affects other countries and the need for working and oppressed people of the world to come together to fight back against it.

“The corrupt Philippine government sold out our country to the United States and the imperialists. They are responsible for the displacement and migration of our people. We are here in solidarity with the working class here in Los Angeles and abroad. Many migrate here for better opportunities, promised the American dream and yet they struggle,” said a member of Gabriela LA.

As the sun set over the march, the crowd danced back into Mariachi Plaza. Throughout the program the speakers encouraged the crowd to join an organization to build the fight against Trump and for an even bigger and more united May Day protest next year.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Labor #ImmigrantRights #MayDay #FRSO #CentroCSO

San Jose, CA – On May 1, 1500 people gathered in East San Jose for the annual San Jose May Day march. This year marked 20 years since May Day was revived in the United States with the 2006 immigrant rights megamarches in protest of the racist, anti-immigrant Sensenbrenner bill. This year, the May Day march began at the intersection of Story and King, an historic center of the Chicano community in San Jose and the same starting location as the 2006 march.

Local singer and songwriter Miguel Trujillo kicked off the opening rally with several songs about the struggles of workers and immigrants.

Louie Rocha, one of the original lead organizers of the 2006 May Day march and retired CWA worker, spoke to the crowd, “Over 200,000 marched and that march started from right here at Story and King Roads. The thousands of marchers included workers, mothers, fathers, families, students, small business owners, to support a fair immigration policy and to also demand respect for those that toil for jobs and services that are least desired.”

“Millions more marched across the country that day. On that day young and old were united. On that day every color in our community was present and marched united for justice. The people watched over the people. HR 4437 ultimately did not pass Congress. We need to keep organizing,” Rocha continued.

This year, as in 2006, the May Day march was joined by walkouts by hundreds of high school students. In all, seven San Jose high schools held walkouts to join the march.

Jonathan Soria, one of the leading student organizers for the walkouts, spoke to the crowd at Story and King, “As a first generation Mexican American, who comes from a background of hard-working immigrants, I am here to say: this country was built by immigrants, and they are here to stay – este país fue construido por inmigrantes, y están aquí para quedarse.”

Soria continued, “My parents as well as many other immigrants went through so much in hopes of giving their children a chance at life that they never received. We are tired of the racism that we have endured in this country. The oppression we have suffered. So now we are here to let it be known that we will no longer tolerate the same treatment. Going forward we will continue to make our voices heard and fight for our people.”

Jessica Aviles from Community Service Organization San Jose stated, “We are currently facing an administration that’s pitting the working class against each other. They cut federal funding towards resources like medical, SNAP benefits and many more that are necessary to our communities and increase funding for ICE and DHS who are terrorizing our immigrant communities.”

Aviles continued, “They’re doing all of this while telling us that the immigrants are at fault when in reality it’s just an excuse for the system that is failing us all. We may ask ourselves, why are they trying to keep us apart? The answer is plain and simple – because when we fight, we win. We all have to keep showing up because the fight is far from over. We have to be there for our communities so they can remain strong.”

The crowd marched from Story and King to San Jose City Hall, stopping along the way for chanting and more speeches. There were many union contingents, including ATU 265, SEIU 2015, LiUNA 270, CWA District 9, California Fast Food Workers Union, UFCW 5, and the South Bay Labor Council. The crowd changed, “ICE out!” and “El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!” People waved a variety of flags, from Mexico, to Palestine, to Iran.

At San Jose City Hall, the program continued as attendees checked out resource tables from local community organizations. The event concluded with cultural performances, including folkorico dancers and live music.

San Jose May Day is organized annually by the San Jose May Day Coalition.

#SanJoseCA #CA #Labor #ImmigrantsRights #MayDay

San José, CA – On April 29, the League of Filipino Students (LFS) in SJSU held a vigil in front of the Victory Statue to honor the lives of the Toboso 19. The Toboso 19 were murdered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on April 23 in Barangays Salamanca, Toboso, and Negros Occidental. A total of 653 residents and 168 households were displaced from Barangays Salamanca and San Jose.

At the vigil, paper roses and candles were set up before the portraits in a beautiful display of solidarity with the martyrs. In a statement released before the vigil, LFS called for “justice for Lyle Prijoles and the victims of the Toboso massacre,” “accountability from the AFP and corrupt Philippine government” and “an end to the U.S.-backed violations of human rights in the Philippines.”

The statement continued, “We are deeply inspired by Ka Lyle’s courage and his genuine love for the toiling Filipino masses. He chose to go to Negros not as an outsider, but to listen, to learn from the people, and to help bring their lived experiences and struggles to light despite knowing the dangers of their militarized situation.”

Throughout the event, LFS students and community members spoke about Lyle Prijoles, one of the martyrs, who was part of LFS at San Francisco State University and was referred to as an exemplary comrade who shared his lessons and experience to organizers and youth alike. A colleague spoke about his love for Star Wars and his passion for worldbuilding and applying its principles to working conditions in the Philippines.

Best friend and fellow organizer Ash Santosh spoke on how he saw Lyle Prijoles like a mentor figure who helped him with every single step of the way and proved himself to be a very humble person in his life. “He tried to make things better and was so instrumental in pushing for people to believe in a brighter future. May we live like Lyle.”

Justher Guttierez gave a personal account of Errol Wendel, who organized alongside them. “Errol was a really funny person who kept a fun atmosphere. He showed me that as an organizer you don’t have to change what kind of person you are,” she recalled. “He was always inquisitive and curious to know the conditions of people’s struggles and lived alongside them. The government is so afraid of activists that it will kill the people they claim to serve, and we will not stop organizing.”

Trizha Aquino from Pilipino Laban sa Korapsyon (PILAK) shared their own experiences in immersion work as they worked alongside Errol Wendel.

“One of the pieces of advice he gave to me is to study the land struggles in different parts of the Philippines so that when you meet a new contact you can ask them where they’re from and connect it to the three big problems,” Aquino said. “When visiting some locals, I would see him off to the side asking some nanays how they were doing and if anything was bothering them. I could tell he was deeply loved and trusted by the masses. It only goes to show how important it is to immerse yourself with the masses.”

Kalyani Blackwell of LFS also spoke about systemic discrimination against the Negrense people in the Philippines, saying, “The farmworkers of Negros produce over half of the country’s sugar and contributes about 90 million to the national GDP annually. Despite that, farmworkers work on a contract system called ‘pakyawan’, where they work 12 hours of backbreaking work a day with no paid overtime.”

#SanJoseCA #CA #StudentMovement #International #Philippines #Toboso19

Los Angeles, CA — On the morning of April 29, Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) and other organizations announced the 11th Annual May Day rally.

The press conference took place at Mariachi Plaza, with live music and speeches. Speakers announced that a celebration and march of International Workers Day is set to take place in Boyle Heights at 3 p.m., May 1, at Mariachi Plaza. The event will include live music, resource tables and a march to downtown.

Reuben Navarrete, a Teamster, stated, “We want to unite all workers on May Day. Teamsters are made up of immigrants, and we will continue to be immigrants! This is why our demands on Friday will include legalization for all as well as stop the war on Iran. Join us on May Day!”

The resonating demands of this year’s May Day in Boyle Heights include: “Workers: stand up, fight back! ¡Raza si, guerra no! Legalization for all! No kids in cages! Stop police brutality! Fund public education!”

Led by CSO members Roberto Anguiano and Verita Topete, the press conference previewed what is to come on May 1.

Gabriel Quiroz Jr, who helps lead the Police Accountability Committee of Centro CSO remembered the 2007 May Day in Los Angeles. Quiroz Jr. said, “In 2007, I was a young Chicano at my first protest. It took place at MacArthur Park. I had never seen so much Raza and I remember thinking how powerful Chicanos can be when we are organized. As a youth I knew that type of Chicano power intimidated the system and that is why LAPD repressed the peaceful protest. That continues to happen today, but we keep fighting and the Chicano movement is only getting stronger.”

Other speakers were Pat Alviso of Military Speaks Out, Takoune Norasingh of Veterans for Peace, Kathy Carreño of IMMIGO, Enrique Velasquez of Proyecto Pastoral, and Sol Márquez of Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Enrique Velasquez with Proyecto Pastoral said, “It is important to express our anger and discontent with the current administration. We are against the terror they have inflicted on our low-income and immigrant communities. We hope to see you Friday!”

If you are interested in attending this year’s annual and peaceful May Day in Boyle Heights, join the event on Friday, May 1 at 3 p.m.. The program begins at 4 p.m. and the march is planned for 5 p.m.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay #CentroCSO #ChicanoLatino

Oakland, CA – On Thursday, April 23, more than 40 people gathered for an art build to prepare for Oakland’s upcoming May 1 rally, march, and resource fair commemorating International Workers’ Day. The event was hosted by Eastside Arts Alliance and organized by Oakland Sin Fronteras, a coalition of over 20 organizations and workers’ unions.

Member organizations include Eastside Arts Alliance, Community Service Organization of Oakland (CSO Oakland), Oakland Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression (OAARPR), Trabajadores Unidos Workers United (TUWU), Bay Area Cuba Solidarity Network, Bay Resistance, California Nurses Association, National Union of Healthcare Workers, SEIU 1020, Alameda Labor Council, Speak Out, East Bay DSA, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and others.

“This year, May Day is especially important,” said Danny Celaya from CSO Oakland. “May 1, 2026 marks 20 years since the historic 2006 mass protests for immigrant rights, when over 3 million across the U.S. rose up against the anti-immigrant ‘Sensenbrenner Bill,’ which attempted to make it a felony to be undocumented or to assist undocumented folks. Those protests defeated the bill and revived May Day in this country. We’re excited to be helping organize this alongside the incredible folks at Oakland Sin Fronteras. We’re keeping the fight going by demanding the release of Bay Area activist and tattoo artist Guillermo Medina Reyes from the for-profit detention center in California City, owned by CoreCivic.”

CSO Oakland is a member of the Legalization for All Network (L4A)

The movement is experiencing a powerful wave of new, young activists, as seen by the many high school walkouts nationwide protesting ICE. At Oakland’s Art Build, that trend continued as high school students made up the majority of attendees, painting banners, signs and creating bucket drums alongside longtime organizers.

“The reason it’s important to involve youth in art builds and help them see how they can be part of May Day is that this generation is witnessing everything we see online and in the news. They want to express themselves, and we’re facilitating safe spaces for that expression and practice. They can take up the baton and move into movement spaces because we need to pass the baton to the next generation. One of the best ways to do that is by having them see themselves in the roles we play today,” said a member of 67 Sueños, a local immigrant rights organization focused on supporting undocumented and mixed-status youth in Oakland.

Beyond immigrant rights, Oakland’s May Day events will also demand an end to U.S. aggression overseas—especially urgent given this year’s U.S.-Israeli bombardments on Iran, Palestine and Lebanon, as well as U.S. attacks on Venezuela and Cuba. They also call for stronger workers’ rights and class solidarity, an end to state violence; and the return of loved ones from prisons, jails and detention centers.

“Solidarity has two parts: unity and struggle. There are many different people represented here today, but we are united in our mutual commitment to justice,” said Noah Teller from OAARPR. “The Oakland Alliance is here to demand justice for Jalani Lovett as part of a broader struggle against state violence. When one of us wins, we all win.”

Music and art will be central to the program, with several performances scheduled, including within the march. Attendees of the art build also took part in a drum line rehearsal to keep the march organized and motivated.

“El arte da vida al movimiento. Por eso seguimos creando y luchando, para ver florecer el barrio de Oakland. (Art gives life to the movement. That is why we keep creating and fighting, to see our Oakland neighborhood flourish),” said Angie Lopez from Eastside Arts Alliance.

Folks can attend Oakland Sin Fronteras' May Day on Friday, May 1 from 2 to 7 p.m. at Fruitvale Plaza, located next to the Fruitvale BART station. A resource fair will open at 2 p.m., followed by the first program at 3 p.m.. The march will take place from 4 to 5 p.m., with a second program running from 5 p.m. until closing around 7 p.m.

#OaklandCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay