Los Ángeles, CA – En una rueda de prensa realizada el 5 de julio, bajo el canto de “Justicia para Edwin Rodríguez”, la familia y abogados presentaron una demanda contra el Condado de Los Ángeles y los vice-alguaciles del Departamento de Sheriffs, Andrew Alatorre y Sandy Galdámez, por el asesinato del joven padre de 24 años.

La rueda de prensa se realizó en la histórica Olivera Street Placita y contó con la asistencia y apoyo de los familiares, abogados, y miembros del Centro CSO (Organización de Servicios Comunitarios de la comunidad de Boyle Heights). Frente a los medios de comunicación latinos y americanos, el público pudo presenciar la energía de la multitud que exigía justicia.

El 14 de febrero del 2016, Edwin Rodríguez fue detenido, golpeado y muerto a tiros por oficiales del Departamento de Sheriffs de Los Ángeles. La víctima recibió 17 disparos, de los cuales 16 fueron mortales, hiriéndolo en la espalda y en la cabeza. El Departamento de Sheriffs afirma que Rodríguez andaba en un carro robado y que encontraron un arma de fuego en el lugar de los hechos.

Sin embargo, ya se ha determinado que el carro en que andaba Rodríguez no era robado y le pertenecía a su madre. Antonio Rodríguez, uno de los abogados de la familia, dijo que “No había razón para detenerlo, además, Edwin estaba desarmado cuando le dispararon y lo mataron”.

Estela Rodríguez, la madre de la víctima expresó “mi hijo era una persona trabajadora, amorosa del arte, y no merecía ser asesinado de manera tan brutal. Nosotros vamos a luchar por la justicia de mi hijo, para que esto no vuelva a ocurrir”. De igual forma, la pareja de Edwin Rodríguez, Stephanie Yánez, también agrego que él era un buen padre y no merecía morir tan joven.

Jorge González, parte del equipo de abogados que está manejando el caso indicó que los oficiales del Departamento de Sheriffs de la ciudad de Los Ángeles no son sometidos ante la ley por los asesinatos que cometen. En la rueda de prensa también estuvo presente Carlos Montes, activista y coordinador Chicano de larga trayectoria del Centro CSO, quien indico que “estos asesinatos policiales han estado ocurriendo por muchos años, y ya se ha convertido en un patrón de abuso y brutalidad contra la comunidad Chicana. Los oficiales del Departamento de Sheriffs del Condado de Los Ángeles son unos asesinos racistas”.

La familia Rodríguez y el Centro CSO exigen que se despida y enjuicie a los vice-alguaciles Alatorre y Galdámez.

Según la demanda, el 14 de febrero, alrededor de las 3:00am, los vice-alguaciles Alatorre and Galdámez ilegalmente detuvieron un vehículo dentro del cual se encontraban el señor Rodríguez y sus dos amigos. En la intersección de la calle Ferris y Whittier Boulevard, en la parte este de la ciudad de Los Ángeles, los vice-alguaciles se acercaron al vehículo con pistolas en mano mientras les gritaban instrucciones. Después de haber sacado a la conductora físicamente del vehículo, los vice-alguaciles procedieron a sacar forzosamente del asiento de pasajeros a Eduardo Rodríguez (Edwin), deteniéndolo en el medio de la calle, donde de forma repentina, sin aviso ni provocación alguna, los vice-alguaciles Alatorre y Galdámez le dispararon 17 veces en la parte de atrás de la cabeza y el torso, causándole la muerte inmediatamente.

#LosÁngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #LosAngeles #EdwinRodriguez

Los Angeles, CA – Chanting “We want justice for Edwin Rodriguez,” the family and lawyers announced, at a July 5 press conference, the filing of a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles and Deputy Sheriffs Andrew Alatorre and Sandy Galdamez for the killing of the 24-year-old father.

The press conference, held at the historic Olvera Street Placita was attended by the family members, attorneys and the Centro CSO Community Service Organization. The public heard the chants for justice and saw the large banners. There was a large turnout from Spanish and English media.

Edwin Rodriguez was pulled over by ELA Sheriffs, beaten and shot to death on Feb. 14, 2016. He was shot 17 times – 16 shots were fatal – with many shots to his back and back of head. The sheriffs claimed that Rodriguez was in a stolen car and a small hand gun was found at the scene. However, the car was not stolen; it belonged to the driver’s mother. Antonio Rodriguez, the family's attorney said, “There was no reason to pull them over and Edwin was unarmed when shot and killed.”

Estela Rodriguez, mother of Edwin, stated, “My son was a caring person who worked and loved art; he did not deserve to be killed in such a brutal way. We will fight for justice for my son, so that it does not happen to others.”

Stephanie Yanez, Edwin Rodriguez’s partner, said that he was a good father and did not deserve to die so young.

Jorge Gonzalez, co-attorney on the case, stated that the LA County Sheriffs are not held accountable for unjustified killings; they are not prosecuted.

Carlos Montes, long time Chicano activist organizer with Centro CSO stated, “These police killings have been going on for years in a pattern of abuse and brutality against the Chicano community. The LA County Sheriffs are racist, official killers.”

The Rodriguez family and Centro CSO have called for the firing and prosecution of Sheriff’s Deputies Alatorre and Galdamez.

According to the lawsuit, on Feb. 14, 2016, at about 3:00 a.m., Deputies Alatorre and Galdamez unlawfully stopped a vehicle in which Defendent Rodriguez and two friends were riding. At the intersection of Ferris and Whittier Boulevard, in East Los Angeles, the sheriff’s deputies ran up to the vehicle with guns drawn and shouting commands at them. After physically removing the driver of the vehicle, a female, the deputies forcefully pulled Eduardo (Edwin) out of the front passenger side and away from the vehicle and into the middle of the street where suddenly and without warning, provocation or legal justification, Deputies Alatorre and Galdamez shot at Eduardo seventeen (17) times with their handguns mostly to the back of his torso and head, causing him fatal injuries and to expire immediately.

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #EdwinRodriguez

Los Angeles, CA – The family of Edwin Rodriguez and their attorneys held a press conference March 8 at the historic La Placita on Olvera Street, the heart of the original Mexican/Native settlement. The family is demanding the release of the names of deputies who beat and killed Edwin Rodriguez on Feb. 14, and that D.A. Jackie Lacey prosecute them for murder.

Estela Rodriguez, his mother, spoke to the media saying, “We want justice for my son, he was a good young man; we will fight till we win.” Well-known civil rights attorney Antonio Rodriguez announced the filing of a claim for damages with the County of Los Angeles, a precursor to filing a major federal civil rights lawsuit. He also stated that the LA sheriffs did not have a valid reason to stop Edwin and friends and that their claim of a stolen car was false.

Estela Rodriguez also stated that the witnesses say that Edwin Rodriguez did not have a gun when he was beaten and shot fatally 17 times – including ten shots to his back and back of the head.

Stephanie Yanez, Edwin Rodriguez’s partner, told the media and public present that he was a good father, loved people and loved sports.

Representing Black Lives Matter, Dr. Melina Abdullah expressed solidarity and said that police target Latinos and Blacks for abuse and killings. People were moved to have five Black Lives Matter members supporting the Rodriguez family. Dr. Abdullah led a chant, “Latinos lives matter, Black lives matter!”

Cynthia Anderson-Barker with the National Lawyers Guild called for the release of the names of the killer sheriffs and for their immediate and vigorous prosecution.

Carlos Montes, organizer with Community Service Organization (CSO), spoke on the long history of the ELA sheriffs’ brutality and killings in the East Los Angeles Mexican-American community, mentioning Carlos Oliva, killed Sept. 19, 2013 and now Edwin Rodriguez. Montes stated, “We will work with the family and community and fight till we win justice for Edwin.”

The family of Edwin has asked CSO to help organize a campaign to win justice for Edwin Rodriguez.

Edwin was killed in the early morning of Feb. 14 by sheriff deputies. Witnesses described the deputies as knocking him to the ground then shooting him in the back. At the time of the shooting he did not pose an imminent threat to the deputies and was shot without just cause.

The family and local residents are demanding justice for Edwin Rodriguez, release of the identities of the deputies responsible and their prosecution for murder and an end to police killings of Mexican American young men in LA.

Edwin Rodriguez was a father of a three-year-old with his partner Stephanie and living with his family in East Los Angeles. He was an avid soccer player and won many awards, including the Goal Champion 2010 award for the Los Angeles Premier Soccer League. He was looking forward to the NFL Rams football team moving to Los Angeles. He attended Garfield High School, worked as a cashier at a local market and loved to draw art and cartoons. He loved people and liked to sing at family gatherings. He was a lifelong resident of East LA, born on Nov. 5, 1991 at White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights.

Edwin’s remains were laid to rest on Feb. 29 at Calvary Cemetery after a walking procession by hundreds accompanied his body through ELA.

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #EdwinRodriguez

Los Angeles, CA – Several hundred marched through the streets of East Los Angles, Feb. 29, carrying the body of Edwin Rodríguez, who was severely beaten and shot by the LA sheriffs. The family and community demanded justice for Rodriguez, prosecution of sheriffs who murdered him and an end to police killings. They chanted, “The sheriffs are assassins.”

The family, with the help of Centro CSO, called for the community to unite and march in the funeral procession on route to Calvary Cemetery in the heart of East Los Angeles for the burial.

Edwin Rodriguez was brutally beaten then shot with high caliber automatic weapons on Feb 14.

The family and supporters will be planning future actions to demand the prosecution of the sheriffs who killed Edwin.

A recent LA Times article points out over 2000 police killings in have occurred in California, with most of the victims being Black and Latino men.

Veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes stated, “This is extrajudicial killing and must be exposed and denounced. This murder is a human rights violation of the kind that has gone on for years – that impact mainly Chicano men. It is a human rights violation, similar to killings in Third World countries. The U.S. has its own human rights violations that it must be acknowledged. The sheriffs responsible for the killing of Edwin Rodriguez need to be prosecuted and jailed.”

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #EdwinRodriguez

Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department murdered another young man in East Los Angeles (ELA), Feb. 14. The LA Sheriff’s version is full of contradictions and misinformation.

Edwin Rodriguez was beaten and shot to death by several sheriff deputies of the notorious ELA Sheriff’s substation. Rodriguez was a passenger in a car stopped on the false pretenses of being stolen. The deputies provoked a confrontation, then beat and shot Rodriguez ten times. The family is calling for protests and hired an attorney to do an independent investigation.

Rodriguez was a father of a three-year-old with his partner Stephanie and was living with family in ELA. Rodriguez was an avid soccer player who won many awards, including the Goal Champion 2010 award for the Los Angeles Premier Soccer League. He was looking forward to the NFL Rams football team moving to Los Angeles. He attended Garfield High School, worked as a cashier at a local market and loved to draw art and cartoons. He loved people and liked to sing at family gatherings. He was born Nov. 5, 1991 at White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights.

His family is calling for a protest, Saturday, Feb. 20, 12:00 noon, at the ELA Sheriff’s station on 5019 East Third Street, LA.

The Rodriguez family is originally from Jalisco, Mexico and has lived in ELA for over 20 years. His mother Elena Rodriguez talked about how her son loved his family and worked hard to support them. She said he loved people, drawing and art and sports. She wants justice for Edwin.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in Los Angeles County California has a long history of harassing, abusing and killing Chicanos and Blacks. Former Sheriff Lee Baca resigned in 2015 and pleaded guilty this month to lying to the FBI about a police abuse incident investigation in the LA County Jails. He awaits sentencing. Baca's former second in command, Sheriff Paul Tanaka, had also been arrested and is awaiting trial for the cover-up of police abuse investigation at the LA County Jail.

In the mid 1990s, the LA County Sheriffs provoked a confrontation and killed Smokey Jimenez in the Ramona Gardens Projects, causing a rebellion. Several other Chicanos have been killed by law enforcement in recent years in the Ramona Gardens Housing Projects of Boyle Heights, including Mauricio Cornejo and others. Protests against LAPD were also called when teenager David Angel Ortiz was shot in the back by a sheriff. In 2013 Carlos Olivas, a college student, was shot in the back by Deputy Sheriff Nicolas Castellanos and Deputy Sheriff Anthony Forlano, who had seven prior shootings, causing protests to erupt again.

ELA has a long history of fighting back. CSO, the ELA community organization that is helping to organize the justice for Rodriguez protest, has been fighting police brutality against Chicanos for the last half century, including the historic 1951 Bloody Christmas case. CSO also fought to get justice for Manuel Jamines, a Guatemalan Mayan day laborer, who was shot in the head on Sept. 5, 2010 by LAPD in the Pico Union community.

Carlos Montes, veteran Chicano revolutionary and organizer with Centro CSO stated, “These police killings have got to stop, it is a major human rights violation that the nation and international community need to denounce. The LA County Sheriffs are liars and brutal killers!”

The CSO has issued the following call to action: “Edwin’s family and the Centro CSO – Community Service Organization – is calling on the ELA and Boyle Heights community to unite and support the family and demand an end to police brutality and murders of our youth! CSO calls for the community to organize to fight for our rights and form a united front to stop the police killings by the ELA Sheriffs and LAPD now. The family and CSO are calling a protest Saturday February 20, 2016 at 12 PM in front of the ELA Sheriff Sub Station 5019 East Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90022.”

The CSO can be contacted on Facebook under Centro CSO, at centrocso@gmail.com, or by phone at 323-943-2030.

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO #EdwinRodriguez