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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Los Angeles, CA – On February 17, over 1000 Chicanos gathered at Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles to protest against ICE deportations and to fight back against Trump's racist, right-wing agenda.

The rally and march were called for by Chicana activists who used social media to get the word out. Recent protests in Los Angeles have brought out large crowds of Chicanos ready to stand up and fight, with the last one, on February 2, drawing tens of thousands who took to the streets. That afternoon protesters even took over the 101 Freeway, shutting it down for hours and completely overwhelming LAPD, LASD and CHP, which were completely unprepared and caught off guard by Raza fighting back.

The rally and march on Presidents’ Day was officially endorsed and supported by the Community Self-Defense Coalition, which is a new coalition recently announced in Los Angeles, consisting of over 60 organizations and unions. Growing every day, the Community Self-Defense Coalition is determined to defend Raza out in the streets in the face of attacks by migra. The program featured speakers from different members of the coalition like Centro CSO, Union Del Barrio, Black Alliance for Peace SoCal and many more. The spirited march made stops at the Metropolitan Detention Center and City Hall before circling back to Placita Olvera.

During the march, the large protest had a soundtrack and that played music, and ledchants like “Raza si, migra no! ” “La que no salta es migra” (Whoever doesn’t jump is migra) and “El Pueblo unido jamás será vencido” (The people united will never be defeated). The march had multiple banners of the different organizations as well dozens of flags representing countries in South America, Central America, Palestine, and Lebanon.

The leading truck flew a large Aztlán flag through the sunny spring morning in Los Angeles. When the march passed through historic Little Tokyo, the organizers shouted out and gave their respects to the Japanese people who themselves were forcefully displaced and put into concentration camps by the United States during World War II.

Veria Topete, a member of Centro CSO, said at the rally, “It felt very beautiful and empowering being with our community, standing in unity to let our brothers and sisters know that it’s not just their fight it’s our fight and they are not alone. That we are here to stand up and defend them.”

Karina Lopez, who represented Centro CSO on the program, said, “Don’t let this be the last action you take. This is only the beginning of the struggle that we have ahead of us when we organize and connect our struggles, we build power. Trump is also saying he will take over Gaza, we say hands off Palestine! Our fight against repression is connected with the fight to liberate Palestine!”

Centro CSO is a grassroots organization focused on fighting for oppressed Chicanos in East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights. They uplift the demands of Legalization for All, Community Control of the Police and Protect Public Education. They are proud members of the Legalization 4 All Network and affiliates of the National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR).

You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook under the username @CentroCSO

#LosAngelesCA #NAARPR #Legalization4All #LegalizationforAll #ELA #BoyleHeights #Chicano #VivaLaRaza #NoDeportations #ICE #ImmigrantRights #Immigration #FreePalestine #Aztlan #Trump #PresidentsDay #LAPD #LASD #CHP

Los Angeles, CA – On Tuesday, July 2, protesters congregated outside and within the Los Angeles City Hall to disrupt the city council’s motion to provide $1 million to Zionist security forces.

Introduced by Council Members Katy Yaroslavsky (Council District 5) and Bob Blumenfield (CD-3), the proposed funding follows attacks by Zionists on Palestine solidarity activists. However, the successful mobilization of anti-Zionist forces led the city council to delay their vote on the motion.

The city council motion came up as a response to the Palestinian Youth Movement’s protest of a “real estate event” held on June 24 by My Home in Israel. That company markets Israeli settlements to American Jews. Like their attack on the UCLA Gaza solidarity encampments, Zionist counter-protesters came to the protest in West LA and initiated clashes with pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

National and local politicians willfully ignored this context, focusing on the location of the real estate event – the Adas Torah synagogue – in order to smear Palestine solidarity activists as “antisemitic.”

President Biden’s X account published, “Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American. Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship – and engaging in violence – is never acceptable.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called upon LAPD to further patrol the neighborhood, vowed to secure funding for security, and described the protest as “Antisemitism in the heart of one of our Jewish communities.”

On June 26, Council Members Yaroslavsky and Blumenfields’ response to the clashes was the introduction of a motion to allocate $1 million to support the Jewish Federation, Magen Am, the Jewish Community Foundation, and/or additional organizations in order to increase “community security services, training, and grants” for the “Jewish communities of Los Angeles.” The proposed recipients of this funding have known links to both the Israel Defense Forces and LAPD as well as a track record of attacking demonstrators at Palestine solidarity actions.

During the press conference outside the city hall and the public comments at the July 2 city council meeting, activists spoke about their experiences of Zionist intimidation and violence at pro-Palestine protests throughout Los Angeles. Speakers also linked the IDF to LAPD through their common training and tactics. They recommended that the city council allocate these funds for affordable housing, green spaces, and other social needs in LA.

Luis Sifuentes of Freedom Road Socialist Organization led his speech with the chant, “Viva, viva Palestina.” He said, “Fascists can attack us for demonstrating our solidarity with Palestine with complete impunity. And now they’re trying to get millions, more money, for supposedly security. But it’s not going to stop here. They’re going to keep asking for more.”

While activists’ efforts led to the delay of the city council’s vote, a new proposal will likely expand the recipients to communities of various religious denominations but also increase the funding to $2 million. When the amended motion is up for a vote, the people of Los Angeles will mobilize once again to demonstrate their rejection of Zionism.

#LosAngelesCA #PalestinianYouthMovement #LAPD #IDF

Los Angeles, CA – In the afternoon of January 8, community organizations marched through North Hollywood to demand justice for Valentina Orellana-Peralta, a 14-year-old who was killed by LAPD officer William Dorsey Jones Jr.

On December 23, Orellana-Peralta was in a changing room with her mother at a Burlington store in North Hollywood when Jones Jr. and other LAPD officers arrived to detain Daniel Elena Lopez. Rather than de-escalate the situation, Jones Jr. immediately fired his military grade rifle and one bullet killed Daniel Elena Lopez while another pierced a wall and struck Orellana-Peralta who died in her mother’s arms.

Orellana-Peralta had just immigrated to the United States from Santiago, Chile six months before her death. Orellana-Peralta attended High Tech Los Angeles in Van Nuys, excelled in school despite being an English language learner, was interested in robotics, and dreamed of becoming an engineer.

On January 8, La Raza Unida Party, Centro CSO, and other organizations met outside the Burlington store on Victory Boulevard where Jones Jr. killed Orellana-Peralta and Lopez. After Ernesto Ayala of La Raza Unida Party kicked off the protest with some chants, protesters took over Laurel Canyon Boulevard while carrying banners demanding justice for Orellana-Peralta and for LAPD to stop killing Latinos.

The march then turned down Burbank Boulevard and rallied outside of LAPD’s North Hollywood station where they called for the firing and arrest of Jones Jr. Ernesto Ayala with La Raza Unida Party gave a speech and said, “If you go home without being a part of an organization then you’ve let them [police] win! They’re organized. Are you? We fight back by being organized!”

In his speech, Carlos Montes of Centro CSO explained the need to win real reforms and to bring LAPD and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department under community control. Montes said, “We fight and organize for systemic change while working for civilian/community control of police. We also support the family's demand that California Attorney General Rob Bonta prosecute LAPD killer cop Jones Jr.”

The injustice of Orellana-Peralta’s death has extended beyond Los Angeles, becoming a national and international story. On Monday, January 10, civil rights figures from across the country attended her funeral in Gardena. During Joe Biden’s congratulatory call to Gabriel Boric for winning the Chilean presidential elections, he offered condolences for Orellana-Peralta’s killing.

LAPD has placed Jones Jr. on paid administrative leave and the California Department of Justice is investigating the killing.

Plans for Centro CSO are to launch a grassroots campaign for a charter amendment that would give more power to the Civilian Oversight Commission and to potentially fire the LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva. To get involved, contact Centro CSO at (323) 943-2030, CentroCSO@gmail, or @CentroCSO on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #ValentinaOrellanaPeralta

Los Angeles, CA – A protest rally and get out the vote grassroots effort was done on October 25 in the East LA barrio of El Sereno by Centro CSO and Black Lives Matter-LA. Over 45 volunteers and families who have been victims of police killings participated call on all to vote November 3 to oust Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey and President Trump.

Chicano and Black working-class people and families impacted by police killings held the rally and GOTV effort to ask voters to oust District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Trump by voting on November 3. The rally was held in a predominately Chicano neighborhood in the beautiful community-built El Sereno Community Garden.

Protesting the killing of Blacks and Chicanos by LAPD and the LA County Sheriffs was the bulk of the rally. The protest, led by Sol Marquez and Lucia Torres, both members of Centro CSO, spoke of the need to prosecute police and denounced Lacey for her failure to prosecute killer cops. The event was co-sponsored and led by Black Lives Matter-LA, which has organized a campaign to denounce Lacey and get out the vote with regular canvassing, rallies and phone banking.

BLM-LA’s well known leaders like Melina Abdullah and Baba Akili and others attended and led the event. The unity of Black and brown was visible.

Several passionate talks were given by Melina Abdullah of BLM-LA, who spoke of the history of Blacks in Mexico and our common bonds. Carlos Montes of Centro CSO spoke about how the Black liberation movement has always inspired and united and supported the Chicano Movement. Montes pointed out the history of unity and struggles for equality and self-determination of Black and Chicano people in the belly of the beast – the U.S. empire.

The GOTV urged local registered voters to vote November 3, to stop police killings by ousting current DA Jackie Lacey and President Trump. Trump has repeatedly spoken in favor of police, states his support for ‘Blue lives’ and for more funding for police. The volunteers spent several hours walking and talking to local voters and got positive results, with most voters saying they would vote out DA Lacey, and not vote for Trump.

Cops from the LAPD Hollenbeck station and East LA Sheriffs have a long history of officer-involved shootings resulting in the deaths of young Chicano men. In the past years there have occurred many police killings leading to protests and lawsuits. LAPD Hollenbeck station in Boyle Heights officers killed: Jose Mendez February 6, 2016, Omar Gonzalez July 28, 2016, Jesse Romero August 9, 2016, Arturo Valdez April 10, 2016, Carlos Gonzalez February 16, 2017, Fred Barragan March 24, 2017, Christina Escobedo January 14, 2018. ELA Sheriffs killed: Edwin Rodriguez, February 14, 2016, Omar Garcia,July 28, 2016, Anthony Vargas, August 12, 2018, Paul Rea, June 27, 2019 and Jorge Serrano Jr. December 16, 2019. These killings have not stopped.

Orange is the New Black actress Diane Guerrero joined the rally and spoke about her own parents and brother who were deported to Colombia. Zada Música sang songs about the struggle for equality for all Latinos in the U.S.

Sol Marquez with Centro CSO spoke of the need to continue the struggle with the weekly rallies and protests at DA Lacey office and the call for a national action on November 4, to demand justice for victims of racist and political repression put out by NAARPR: National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The event ended with chants of “Jackie Lacey must go, Jackie Lacey will go!” and “We vote, we organize!”

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO #LAPD #GOTV #DianeGuerrero

Los Angeles, CA – On August 22, 2015 Alfredo Santibañez almost lost his life. Around 11:30 p.m., Santibañez was walking along Soto Street near the 24-hour McDonalds, when he noticed two white, bald men in a Ford Crown Victoria approaching him. Santibañez says he immediately thought they were white gang members.

“Not once did they identify themselves,” said Santibañez recalling the events leading up to his shooting. “One of them asked me without warning, ‘Are you strapped?’”

Santibañez did not know that the two white men in the car were undercover Los Angeles Police officers David Bunch and Boyan Brkic in plain clothes, their car an unmarked police vehicle, had racially profiled him, and had already started stacking up charges against him. No siren nor lights were used as they approached Santibañez with a common question asked by gang members.

Understandably, Santibañez ran towards a friend’s house. Santibañez was shot at five to six times and fell to the floor. As Santibañez suffered from three gunshot wounds, one of the officers jumped on Santibañez and pressed their knee on his neck and wounded leg. A neighbor video recorded as Santibañez asked the officers, “Why did you shoot me?” To which the cops yelled, “You had a gun!”

Santibañez and his neighbors were deeply confused, as Santibañez fought for his dear life.

Santibañez’s mother arrived on the scene and was pleading with police to know who had shot at her son. An officer lied to her face in Spanish and told her, “We don’t know!” She asked, “Are you looking for them?” He replied that they were and to step back. An ambulance finally arrived and transported Santibañez to the hospital.

Alone and after losing tremendous amounts of blood, Santibañez was now alone at the hospital with multiple officers scrutinizing his every move. At one point, when he had lost consciousness, officers began to swab him for DNA and were in the middle of finger-printing him. He woke up and demanded to know what they were doing. They stopped but offered no apology nor explanation.

Alfredo Santibañez’s case went to trial from April 25, 2017 to May 9, 2017 with one of the undercover cops, David Bunch, testifying against him in court. Santibañez was charged with two counts of violating Penal Code section 417©, brandishing a handgun in the presence of an officer, and Penal Code section 29800(a), convicted felon in possession of a firearm. During the trial, one of Santibañez’s sisters testified that she did not see her brother in possession of a gun and that she also did not see a gun on the ground at the scene, as the police claimed. On May 9, 2017, the jury found Santibañez not guilty of the charges against him, and on June 5, 2017 Santibañez filed a lawsuit against the LAPD.

Five years later, Santibañez and his family are far from putting August 22, 2015 behind them. Diana Santibañez, sister of Alfredo, says, “This happened to my brother five years ago. And he survived being shot three times! Despite the police stalling medical aid on my brother, he survived. To anyone going through anything similar, don’t give up! Don’t be scared to open your mouth and scream. We have to fight back, no matter what.”

“Even if there isn’t any video, it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” says Alfredo Santibañez. “I survived! George Floyd sadly didn’t. But his killing got the entire country to move. I want others to know we can also stand up when this happens to us.”

The Santibañez family has now joined forces with the neighborhood group Centro CSO in Boyle Heights and will partake in this year’s historic Chicano Moratorium commemoration event. For details on the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1203790706493709 To contact CSO with any tips regarding police abuse, terror or brutality contact them at 323-943-2030, CentroCSO@gmail.com, centrocso.wordpress.com or @CentroCSO on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #AlfredoSantibañez

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Centro Community Service Organization (Centro CSO).

The morning of August 12, 2020 the private residence of Black Lives Matter – Los Angeles co-founder Dr. Melina Abdullah was swarmed by an LAPD SWAT team. With their semi-automatic rifles pointed at her home, the team stood surrounding her home in tactical gear.

“We looked out the front window, and two officers stood and put their assault rifles and pointed them directly at us,” Abdullah said at a Cal State L.A. press conference. “And I realized they came for me. And they called out my address, said everyone needed to come out with their hands up.”

On the evening of August 12, Abdullah went live on her Instagram account thanking the over 300 people who privately messaged her after the swarm attack by LAPD SWAT. Abdullah stated on Instagram live that the police lie and aren’t to be believed, regarding any of the particulars of the attack.

In the early hours of August 12th, an 911 call falsely reported that there was a hostage situation at Abdullah’s home. To this alleged call, LAPD SWAT responded by showing up at the residence.

We Condemn This Attack

Those of us who are supporters and allies of BLM and Black liberation activists understand that intimidation, threats, and terror are commonplace by authorities. Recently District Attorney of Los Angeles’ husband David Lacey was charged with three misdemeanors after pointing a gun at BLM activists including Abdullah when they protested outside of the Lacey residence. The misdemeanor charges were placed on August 3rd by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

One of our own CSO members, longtime Chicano revolutionary Carlos Montes, had his home raided by the FBI and LA County Sheriff's SWAT on May 17, 2011. In another act of terror, the FBI could have seriously injured Montes. Carlos has also been the victim of threats of bodily harm, false accusations, rumors, and insults.

Additionally, family members of those killed by LASD and LAPD have been repeatedly harassed by LA County Deputies when they fight back. A sister of Paul Rea, who was killed by East LA Sheriffs, was arrested and kidnapped by deputies when she was visiting the memorial site for her brother. On other occasions, other families like Anthony Daniel Vargas’ (also killed by East LA Sheriffs) have been stalked by the same deputies Nikolis Perez and Jonathan Rojas who killed Vargas.

As we continue our struggle, we expect attacks. However, we will not let them quash our fight for justice. An attack on one of us, is an attack on all of us.

We will not allow for this attack to go unnoticed or unopposed. Whoever gave the false tip must be held accountable. We demand LAPD SWAT and District Attorney Jack Lacey issue apologies now to Dr. Melina as well as Black Lives Matter. Continuing with our mission to fight for and defend survivors as well as victims of police terror, we will never shy away from fighting back. Enough is enough!

Aftermath

One of our members drove past the Hall of Justice where Lacey’s office is located and noticed various LA Sheriff's patrol vehicles surrounding the building. This practice is not commonplace on a regular business day. We are left to wonder: Are they thinking the people will fight back after their terrorist act on Black Lives Matter?

Every Wednesday starting at 3:00 pm Black Lives Matter holds weekly protests outside of Lacey’s office located at 211 W Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90012. We urge you to attend today, and every Wednesday to show your solidarity! Not one more killing by LASD or LAPD, and not one more life taken by authorities and justified as “within policy” by Lacey!

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #Antiracism #BLM #DrMelinaAbdullah

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Centro Community Service Organization (Centro CSO).

The morning of August 12, 2020 the private residence of Black Lives Matter – Los Angeles co-founder Dr. Melina Abdullah was swarmed by an LAPD SWAT team. With their semi-automatic rifles pointed at her home, the team stood surrounding her home in tactical gear.

“We looked out the front window, and two officers stood and put their assault rifles and pointed them directly at us,” Abdullah said at a Cal State L.A. press conference. “And I realized they came for me. And they called out my address, said everyone needed to come out with their hands up.”

On the evening of August 12, Abdullah went live on her Instagram account thanking the over 300 people who privately messaged her after the swarm attack by LAPD SWAT. Abdullah stated on Instagram live that the police lie and aren’t to be believed, regarding any of the particulars of the attack.

In the early hours of August 12th, an 911 call falsely reported that there was a hostage situation at Abdullah’s home. To this alleged call, LAPD SWAT responded by showing up at the residence.

We Condemn This Attack

Those of us who are supporters and allies of BLM and Black liberation activists understand that intimidation, threats, and terror are commonplace by authorities. Recently District Attorney of Los Angeles’ husband David Lacey was charged with three misdemeanors after pointing a gun at BLM activists including Abdullah when they protested outside of the Lacey residence. The misdemeanor charges were placed on August 3rd by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

One of our own CSO members, longtime Chicano revolutionary Carlos Montes, had his home raided by the FBI and LA County Sheriff's SWAT on May 17, 2011. In another act of terror, the FBI could have seriously injured Montes. Carlos has also been the victim of threats of bodily harm, false accusations, rumors, and insults.

Additionally, family members of those killed by LASD and LAPD have been repeatedly harassed by LA County Deputies when they fight back. A sister of Paul Rea, who was killed by East LA Sheriffs, was arrested and kidnapped by deputies when she was visiting the memorial site for her brother. On other occasions, other families like Anthony Daniel Vargas’ (also killed by East LA Sheriffs) have been stalked by the same deputies Nikolis Perez and Jonathan Rojas who killed Vargas.

As we continue our struggle, we expect attacks. However, we will not let them quash our fight for justice. An attack on one of us, is an attack on all of us.

We will not allow for this attack to go unnoticed or unopposed. Whoever gave the false tip must be held accountable. We demand LAPD SWAT and District Attorney Jack Lacey issue apologies now to Dr. Melina as well as Black Lives Matter. Continuing with our mission to fight for and defend survivors as well as victims of police terror, we will never shy away from fighting back. Enough is enough!

Aftermath

One of our members drove past the Hall of Justice where Lacey’s office is located and noticed various LA Sheriff's patrol vehicles surrounding the building. This practice is not commonplace on a regular business day. We are left to wonder: Are they thinking the people will fight back after their terrorist act on Black Lives Matter?

Every Wednesday starting at 3:00 pm Black Lives Matter holds weekly protests outside of Lacey’s office located at 211 W Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90012. We urge you to attend today, and every Wednesday to show your solidarity! Not one more killing by LASD or LAPD, and not one more life taken by authorities and justified as “within policy” by Lacey!

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #Antiracism #BLM #DrMelinaAbdullah

Officer Hernandez was arrested and released on his own recognizance in less than an hour. He should have had a bail amount and made to spend time in jail. He was charged with one felony charge of assault under color of authority. If he is found guilty, Hernandez can receive up to three years in prison. This is a very rare move on the part of DA Lacey, as she has failed to file charges on hundreds of police killings of Chicano, Latino and Black victims.

We see this as a small victory. However, in September of 2010, cop Hernandez shot and killed a Guatemalan man named Manuel Jamines. Hernandez's only punishment was to be transferred to Hollenbeck, the Boyle Heights LAPD station. While there, he was left to terrorize and brutalize an unknown amount of people until he was filmed by a neighbor beating up victim Richard Castillo.

Centro CSO organized a large protest at LAPD Hollenbeck station on May 15. This protest demanded the firing and jailing of Hernandez.

A CSO delegation also delivered over 1800 signed petitions to LAPD Chief Michael Moore on May 21, demanding the same.

On May 30, CSO participated in the National Day of Protest to fight back against police terror – which was called for by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) – at Mariachi Plaza.

We will continue to demand that cop Hernandez also be fired from LAPD, convicted and given jail time! When we organize and fight back, we can win! We must continue to demand the jailing of killer cops, and community control over the police! To join Centro CSO, click and fill out the following form: https://centrocso.wordpress.com/contact-us/

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO #LAPD

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Centro CSO in Los Angeles, California.

Centro CSO stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter-LA’s call to protest the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are also working to prosecute all the Minneapolis police officers involved. We also unite with the call to prosecute the LAPD and LA Sheriffs for the hundreds of killings of Black, Chicano and Latino people in LA.

We denounce the current militarization of Los Angeles and repression against protesters. Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti has called the National Guard to patrol LA streets, which already had over 10,000 LAPD police, and thousands of LA County Sheriffs on duty. Under the guise of protecting property, the forces are arresting and suppressing peaceful protesters. Thousands of protesters have been arrested, many shot with hard rubber bullets, brutalized and teargassed. We oppose Mayor Garcetti's proposed LA city budget with more funding for LAPD as they already receive over 50% of the yearly LA city budget. We call to cut the LAPD’s bloated budget.

President Trump on June 1st made provocative, aggressive statements against protesters, threatening to call out the military to suppress the daily protests. Minutes later, peaceful protesters were forcefully pushed, shot with tear gas and rubber bullets, just to clear the way for Trump to walk to a local church. The protesters were not given any warning or order to disperse. The church leaders are outraged because they too, were gassed as they were outside helping protesters.

In Boyle Heights, the community has suffered numerous LAPD killings of young Chicanos as well as a recent brutal beating of Chicano Richard Castillo by Hollenbeck LAPD cop Frank Hernandez. We demand Frank Hernandez be fired. On May 21, a Centro CSO delegation delivered a petition to LAPD Chief Moore to fire officer Hernandez. That afternoon Chief Moore stated that the investigation would be finalized by June 1, 2020. We are still awaiting the results.

Centro CSO will continue to organize, as well as attend local protests, provide updates via our social media, and Fight Back! News.

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #CentroCSO #LAPD #Antiracism #MinneapolisUprising

Los Angeles, CA – Only a week after marches, protests and car caravans demanding justice for George Floyd and victims of the Los Angeles Police Department broke out across Los Angeles, this rebellion has already begun to win concessions from the LA city government. While Mayor Garcetti and the LAPD initially repressed the uprising of Angelenos by instituting a 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, calling in the National Guard, and mass-arresting those struggling in the streets, attempts to stop the momentum of protesters have failed. In particular, actions organized on June 2 and 3 by Black Lives Matter-LA – first at the mansion of Mayor Garcetti and then at the Hall of Justice – have been decisive in the efforts to defund the police and defeat the curfew.

These demonstrations on back-to-back days followed a week of protests that have effectively combined both ‘violence’ and ‘nonviolence,’ exposing the LAPD and Mayor Garcetti’s true faces to the city. As covered by Fight Back!, on Wednesday, May 27, BLM-LA’s weekly protest against Jackie Lacey evolved into a 1000-person march which took over the 101 Freeway. During that action, the California Highway Patrol drove through the crowd, striking one protester.

On Saturday, May 30, BLM-LA held a rally at Pan Pacific Park before marching through Fairfax. Enraged police officers argued with protesters before beating them with their batons, using tear gas and shooting rubber bullets. The same afternoon in Boyle Heights, Centro CSO organized their own rally as part of the National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) National Day of Protest, with Chicanos coming out in the hundreds to demand justice for George Floyd and victims of LAPD and LA Sheriffs terror. Every day new actions, both planned and spontaneous, occur across Los Angeles, from Long Beach to Pasadena.

As in Minneapolis and cities around the U.S., protesters have also risen up against police brutality by ‘shopping for free’ at different businesses, especially affluent areas in the West Area. LAPD and the city government have been caught off guard, forcing Los Angeles to put in place a curfew and request backup from the National Guard. LAPD has used the curfew, which disproportionately hurts working people, to arrest more and more protesters, only fueling the city’s anger.

Beyond the repression happening on the ground, Mayor Garcetti’s plan to increase funding to police during this current economic and health crisis created by COVID-19 has infuriated Los Angeles. Garcetti proposed reducing public services and furloughing city workers due to a budget shortfall while siphoning more money to LAPD, which already receives more than half the budget. In response, BLM-LA has pushed a People’s Budget, which will defund the police and prioritize desperately needed public services.

In the late afternoon of June 2, BLM-LA took their demands directly to Mayor Garcetti’s house. An initial group of protesters, including members of Centro CSO, convened at Harold A. Henry Park. After hearing instructions from BLM-LA leaders, protesters marched through the elite neighborhood of Hancock Park, taking over Wilshire Boulevard on their way to a rally outside of Mayor Garcetti’s mansion. Thousands of protesters spontaneously arrived once pictures and videos of the action began popping up on social media. When a swarm of helmeted LAPD officers lined up on the north part of the block, over 100 protesters sat in front to block off their approach. Eventually, police retreated, and protesters chanted “Whose streets? Our streets!”

Throughout the rally, BLM-LA’s organizers, along with families who have lost loved ones to police terror, condemned Mayor Garcetti’s plan to increase funding for LAPD. They also called for Garcetti to fire Chief of Police Michel Moore who said of looters and George Floyd, “His death is on their hands, as much as it is those officers.” The chants “Defund the police,” “Fuck Garcetti,” and “Jackie Lacey must go” rang out over and over again.

The following day, June 3, BLM-LA led another protest outside of the Hall of Justice, a weekly tradition that the organization has maintained for more than two and a half years in order to put pressure on LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey. On this occasion, tens of thousands of protesters gathered to demand the prosecution of killer cops and voting out DA Lacey. With the National Guard on the Hall of Justice’s front steps as well as in the streets and surrounding buildings, BLM-LA activists explained how DA Lacey has refused to hold a single cop accountable for any of the 600 killings that have occurred during her term.

BLM-LA introduced thousands of new attendees to a tradition that they follow at every protest, calling out the names from a long list of men and women who have been killed by LAPD in the last few years. Relatives of Grechario Mack, Eric Rivera, Kenneth Ross Jr., and many other victims of police terror described how their loved ones have been killed and Lacey has let off the officers every time. BLM-LA also invited Chicano allies who regularly attend the Jackie Lacey protest to speak as well. German Romero, a member of Centro CSO, spoke about the killing of his 14-year-old son Jesse Romero in Boyle Heights. The sister of Cesar Rodriguez also described how Long Beach police wrestled her brother in front of an oncoming train because he allegedly hadn’t paid for his metro ride.

One of the last speakers, BLM activist Joseph Williams reminded protesters how BLM-LA’s fight against DA Jackie Lacey is nothing new and urged all in attendance to find an organization to continue growing this movement.

“We've been out here in front of Jackie Lacey’s office every week for two and a half years. Every week! Do y’all think that cops would get away with killing our people if all of us showed up like this every week?” asked Williams. “The pain for Eric Rivera and Grechario Mack and all these folks up here, all these families, that shit don’t end. So all of us, we gotta make sure our commitment to this don’t end. We gotta make sure our anger about this shit don’t end.”

As the rally in front of the Hall of Justice concluded, BLM-LA announced that Mayor Garcetti was in fact at city hall. Protesters, who had been sitting so that everyone could see the speakers, rose to their feet and marched the one block so the mayor could hear their demands. Crowding onto the steps of City Hall and Grand Park, protesters chanted, “Rise up! Resist, don’t need no killer cops or jails! The whole damn system is guilty as hell!” and “Fuck your curfew!”

This rebellion has already begun to win reforms from the city government only one week after its emergence. Mayor Garcetti has announced that he will scrap his proposed budget and actually cut $250 million that he had intended to hand over to LAPD. Instead, Garcetti has said this money will go toward education, health and jobs in Black communities as well as other initiatives. While the National Guard remains on the streets, protests have forced the city of Los Angeles to lift the curfew.

As the week-by-week growth of BLM-LA’s Jackie Lacey Must Go protest has shown, conditions in Los Angeles are changing rapidly. Mayor Garcetti and the city council’s change of heart on the budget vote indicates that the uprising has scared the Los Angeles elite. The people must continue taking to the streets to demand justice for all victims of police terror.

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #LAPD #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #MinneapolisUprising

Los Angeles, CA – More than 1000 people marched here, May 27, to demand justice for George Floyd, an African American man who was murdered by Minneapolis police. Protesters were also demanding justice for two others who were murdered by LAPD within the last 48 hours. The action was organized by Black Lives Matter-LA and assembled at the Hall of Justice in downtown. Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has refused to prosecute police killings, and her office is located at the Hall of Justice.

The protest then marched onto the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic temporarily. The protesters chanted, “Black lives, they matter here!” along with various other chants. While on the freeway, California Highway Patrol drove through the crowd. They purposefully left a protester injured and unconscious until paramedics arrived on the scene 30 minutes later.

From the 101 Freeway, the protest continued, eventually marching to the Federal Metropolitan Detention Center. Protesters were angry about police terror and abuse both in Los Angeles and all over the country.

Minneapolis, Minnesota has faced several days of uprisings. Fires and damages to businesses have become commonplace. On May 28 the Minneapolis Police Third Precinct building was set on fire, and cops disappeared for hours. 500 National Guard troops have been called into duty .Trump even tweeted that the protesters should be “Shot.”

Protests have taken place nationwide including in Phoenix, Tucson, Denver, Albuquerque, Louisville, New York and Ohio. May 30 will see even more protests after the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression has called for a national day of protest in solidarity with George Floyd and countless others. Under the slogan “Mass release now,” participants will also be demanding the release of prisoners and detention center detainees who are at very high risk for contracting COVID-19.

Centro CSO in Boyle Heights will be organizing an event May 30 at 3 p.m. at Mariachi Plaza.

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #LAPD #Antiracism #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatterLA

Los Angeles, CA ⁠- Thursday afternoon, May 21, a contingent of Centro CSO members delivered to LAPD Chief Michel Moore a petition with over 1800 signatures demanding the firing of Officer Frank Hernandez. Earlier this month, the release of a video that caught Hernandez viciously attacking Richard Castillo sparked outrage in Boyle Heights where the incident took place. Chief Moore himself described the video, which clearly shows that Castillo had followed Hernandez’s orders and was not resisting arrest, as “disturbing” during his conversation with Centro CSO outside of LAPD headquarters.

Along with the petition signatures, Centro CSO also included comments from signers who expressed anger at both this current incident and the fact that Hernandez works in Boyle Heights at all. After Hernandez shot and killed Manuel Jamines, a Guatemalan day laborer, in 2010, LAPD transferred him to Hollenbeck Police Station, which has become infamous in Boyle Heights for the high number of young men killed by police.

“Your brutality and dishonesty are utterly despicable and are not to be tolerated by any just and humane society,” wrote one petition signer. “You are a danger to our communities and we do not want you on our streets!” Another asked Hernandez, “How can you abuse civilians knowing that you’re supposed to serve and protect them?”

As Chief Moore received the signatures and comments, Centro CSO asked for an update on Officer Hernandez’s current situation. According to Chief Moore, Hernandez has been placed on home duty and Boyle Heights can expect a swift response from LAPD. “I hope to have the completed investigation by the first of the month of June,” he told Centro CSO. “This entire matter will come before me to evaluate his actions and the consequences will be known.”

Centro CSO member Sol Marquez responded to Chief Moore’s confirmation that LAPD had taken Hernandez off the streets by noting the deadly impact when the police department doesn’t follow this procedure. “We know that officers like Eden Medina, within 12 days was able to kill two people in Boyle Heights in 2016,” said Marquez.

Carlos Montes, also of Centro CSO, used the face-to-face meeting as an opportunity to emphasize to Chief Moore that Hernandez is a threat to Boyle Heights: “We were out here ten years ago when he killed Manuel Jamines. I know that’s settled, but that was a real tragic case…he could have been arrested but [Hernandez] shot him in the head. The folks in the MacArthur Park area had told us that he was a bully and he harassed street vendors. You saw the video so hopefully he can be fired.” Hernandez was formerly stationed at the notorious LAPD Rampart station where a large protest was held in September 2010 when Manuel Jamines was killed.

Chief Moore’s possible transparency contrasts with the dismissive actions of the captain of Hollenbeck Police Station, Sonia Monico. On May 15, after the release of the video, Centro CSO led a protest outside of the Hollenbeck Police Station in Boyle Heights with the intent of handing over this same petition to Captain Monico. While Captain Monico had agreed to receive the signatures and comments, once the action started, she ignored Centro CSO’s calls. Eventually, Centro CSO member Sol Marquez decided to tape the petition to the station’s locked doors.

Richard Castillo is now safe but still traumatized and has sued the City of Los Angeles and LAPD for using excessive force and spitting in his face. While seeing Hernandez’s placement on home duty as a small victory, Centro CSO will continue fighting to get Hernandez fired. Those who wish to participate in this struggle can call 323-943-2030, email centrocso@gmail.com, or visit Facebook: Centro CSO.

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #LAPD #Antiracism #FrankHernandez #RichardCastillo

Los Angeles, CA – The violent attack happened on April 27. The video released was not caught on LAPD Hollenbeck patrol vehicles, nor on body cameras. Instead the video was recorded by a neighbor witness in Boyle Heights.

Two LAPD Hollenbeck station police officers were present, one of whom was Frank Hernandez, the other officer a woman. The officers responded to a radio call about a trespassing suspect near the Church of God of the Prophecy, located at the 2400 block of Houston Street.

The video initially shows the unnamed victim being arrested, his hands behind his back, not resisting. Without warning, Hernandez suddenly begins to repeatedly punch the victim in the head and upper body. Hernandez’s partner simply watches as Hernandez punches and verbally accosts the victim. Hernandez’s partner then calls for backup. Moments later, another LAPD patrol vehicle shows up and more officers begin to assist in the arrest of the victim who was never resisting. Meanwhile Hernandez is heard and seen in the video yelling at the witnesses, “Get inside! He’s the most friendly guy. He ***ing attacked me! Hey! Get inside NOW! You’re not police! Get inside!” Hernandez is then seen dismissing the witnesses with his hand.

The unnamed suspect was released from custody from LAPD Hollenbeck police station pending further investigation, and Hernandez has been assigned to home duty. An LAPD statement said that under the direction of the Chief of LAPD Michael Moore, Hernandez will be investigated by the department’s Force Investigation Division.

Centro CSO, a Boyle Heights organization that has been fighting against police terror since the 1950s, has formed a petition to demand the firing of LAPD cop Frank Hernandez.

“Hernandez has killed before but LAPD allowed him to patrol and continue abusing residents,” says longtime Chicano activist Carlos Montes.

Montes is referring to past shootings by killer cop Frank Hernandez. He shot a Black woman in 1999, an 18-year-old in 2008, and killed Manuel Jamines, a Guatemalan day laborer, in September 2010. In none of these cases was Hernandez fired, and no charges were ever brought on him. For over 20 years, Hernandez has roamed the street committing atrocities.

“Since no LAPD camera caught the most recent incident, we are left to wonder how many more similar attacks have happened without us knowing about them,” says Centro CSO member Luis Sifuentes. “So no matter where you live, if you witness any cop doing something suspicious, you have a right to film them.” New laws require the LAPD to release video evidence, including body-worn and dashcam video footage, to the public within 45 days after a use-of-force incident.

“We must fight back against LAPD attacking Chicanos and Latinos in Boyle Heights and East LA,” says Carlos Montes. “Chief of LAPD Michael Moore, fire Frank Hernandez!”

To sign the petition go here https://tinyurl.com/yc86uorl. To reach Centro CSO (323) 943-2030, CentroCSO@gmail.com, facebook.com/CentroCSO

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #Antiracism #FrankHernandez

Los Angeles, CA – On August 23, over 70 people, including the family of Paul Rea, gathered for a memorial. 18-year-old Rea was shot and killed by East Los Angeles Sheriffs on June 27, after a minor traffic infraction. The East LA sheriff's station is currently under FBI investigation. Since 2014, there have been lawsuits against and reports that there is a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department gang called Los Bandidos. Additionally, East LA sheriffs have a long history of brutalizing and murdering Chicanos.

The event featured tacos cooked on site and drinks, all at no cost to participants. Chairs, tables and flowers were positioned along Gerhart Avenue near the murder site. Multiple East LA sheriffs drove by the site, and two deputies parked around the corner. One highway patrol officer stopped and asked the family to contain the crowd within the site. Centro CSO members attended to show support for the family.

“While I was setting up, two sheriffs drove by slowly with their windows down,” said Leah Garcia mother of Paul Rea. “And they looked over at me, didn’t say anything, but they were laughing.” This intimidation tactic, along with frequent sheriffs driving by her house, are common among families who have been victims of police terror. The ongoing threatening behavior continues long after authorities have claimed lives.

A tree memorial was to be installed during the event, but a neighbor managed to stop it. The neighbor called the Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis’ East LA office and the Crisis Hotline to complain. Soledad Enrichment Action, Inc (SEA) offered to donate the tree memorial for Rea. This neighbor, however, also called the offices of SEA and complained that the memorial site was disrupting her neighborhood. Paul Rea's family formed a petition and have been given a deadline of September 1 to gather enough signatures to demonstrate support for the tree memorial. An online petition was created by Centro CSO and the link is here https://bit.ly/33TIHqC

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #PaulRea

Los Angeles, CA – An LA jury took less than 24 hours to reject the wrongful death claims of a man killed by LAPD. The civil lawsuit needed a minimum of nine jurors to rule that the killer cop used excessive force in killing victim Omar González. However, all 12 jurors rejected the claim and ruled that police did not use negligence nor excessive force. In other words, the jury unanimously accepted the lies of two-time killer cop Eden Medina and his legal team.

The trial of The Estate of Omar González v. City of Los Angeles, et al started-on April 5 and ended April 17. Omar González was a 36-year-old Chicano from Boyle Heights who was killed by LAPD officer Eden Medina on July 26, 2016. González was the passenger in a vehicle that was initially targeted for a failure to use a turn signal. Upon the car stopping after a car chase, González ran and was tackled by multiple police officers before being shot twice in the back by killer cop Eden Medina.

The city of Los Angeles’ defense attorneys, Corey Brente and Michelle Smith, were the same white lawyers who represented Medina in the Jesse Romero trial.

Attorneys Kent Henderson, Michael Carrillo and Ángel Carrasco represented González’ sons – 18-year-old Omar González Jr. and his brother, a 15-year-old. The trial took place at the LA County Stanley Mosk Courthouse and lasted only 12 days.

In a span of 12 days, killer cop Eden Medina killed two victims: 36-year-old Omar González on July 26, 2016 and 14-year-old Jesse Romero on August 9, 2016. Both slayings took place in Boyle Heights.

2016 saw a record number of shootings by police in the neighborhood Boyle Heights, with an astonishing six deaths in under a year. But the jury was never able to hear this bit of information. Judge Moloney ruled that if the jury knew about Romero’s death, Medina would not have a fair trial. The same mercy would not be shown to victim Omar González.

Medina’s defense put on an almost identical performance from the Jesse Romero trial which took place in November 2018. They called in the same expert witnesses, cracked insensitive jokes, created sympathy for Medina by asking the jury to look at things from Medina’s perspective, and repeatedly victim-blamed González. The arguments of Medina’s attorneys were based upon textbook fear-mongering as they mentioned over and over again that González had methamphetamines in his system at the time of his death, that he ran from the cops, and that he had an unregistered gun. One of the jurors later said that even if there had been no gun present, they still would have reached the same verdict.

The LA City attorneys constantly reminded the jury that Medina and his partner, LAPD officer Alejandro Higareda, belonged to the LAPD Gang Enforcement Unit. During jury selection, the defense weeded out potential jurors who had experienced police abuse, who had attended a Black Lives Matter rally, or who viewed the system as biased against oppressed nationalities. In doing so, any sympathy for victim Omar González flew out the window.

Called as witnesses, Omar González’s sons told many stories about their father, who was clearly caring and thoughtful, which contradicted the efforts by Medina’s attorneys to portray González, not Medina, as a threat to Los Angeles. “My dad taught us that arguments were to be settled with words, and not violence,” testified the 15-year-old during the trial. González was describing an example of when his father, Omar González, had been confronted by an angry customer at a Mexican bakery. “It was a valuable lesson that my father was able to teach me, before he was killed.”

Medina’s attorney couldn’t let the 15-year-old González brother off the witness stand without throwing one last jab, “And did your father also teach you to follow the law? Did your father teach you to obey police commands?”

In his closing argument, LAPD attorney Corey Brente portrayed Eden Medina, the trigger-happy killer cop, as a hero. Brente shamelessly asked the jurors if they would have chased victim González in the same situation. According to Brente, Medina acted honorably by chasing and confronting González. “He earned our trust,” said Brente.

Attorney Brente even threatened the two teen sons in closing statements by saying, “These” he paused here, “plaintiffs testified that their father taught them to follow the law. I hope they follow the law. I hope they do.”

If you wish to join Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) in fighting back against Chicano killings by LAPD, message them here 213-943-2030 or at centrocso@gmail.com.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD

Los Angeles, CA – Several families of young Chicano men killed by the LAPD joined a militant protest in front of the LAPD headquarters, March 30. A large banner with the slogan, “LAPD, stop killing Black and Brown people,” was displayed at the protest.

Josefina Rizo, the mother of Jose Mendez, a 16-year-old killed on February 6, 2016, was joined by Valerie Rivera, the mother of Eric Rivera, who was killed on June 6, 2017. The mothers spoke at the protest and demanded that LAPD stop killing young men and that officers be prosecuted by Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

Sol Marquez with Centro CSO led the protest with chants like “Prosecute killer cops!”

At the start of the protest, 30 students from Ceiba College Prep High School MEChA in Watsonville joined, chanting and holding up posters. Later, 500 members of the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA), or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan arrived. MEChA de UCLA was hosting the 26th MEChA National Conference the weekend of March 30.

The families and Centro CSO members mounted a large, flatbed truck to denounce the LAPD for killing Chicanos and Blacks. Sol Marquez, along with a spokesperson for Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles denounced the police killing and pointed out the long history of resistance by the Chicano and Black communities.

Organized by Centro Community Service Organization (CSO), the protest included Boyle Heights’ East LA residents, teachers and students.

After the demonstration at the LAPD, the large crowd marched to the Federal Metropolitan Detention Center, this time to protest the Detention Center and ICE. Speeches were made by Bayan USA, American Indian Movement (AIM), Union del Barrio, La Raza Unida Party, and MEChA. They demanded an end to the Trump attacks, detentions and deportations.

Later that day, the National MEChA Conference hosted a panel on the East LA Chicano Student Walkouts of 1968. The panel was held at La Plaza de Cultura y Arte with music, local food and cultural vendors. During the panel, veteran ELA Walkout leaders talked about the struggle for equality in education as part of the long history of struggle of the Chicano people in the Southwest for self-determination.

#LosAngelesCA #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #MECHA #LAPD #Antiracism

Los Angeles, CA – Chanting, “Say his name! Christian Escobedo!” and “If we don’t get no justice, then they don’t get no peace! No justice! No peace! No trigger-happy police!” on January 12 over 60 neighbors, family members, friends and allies gathered on Galena Street and Amethyst Street – where Escobedo was shot and killed.

In the early hours of January 14 the year before, Christian Escobedo, who was 22 years old at the time, and a friend were asleep on the street. Someone called LAPD and the officers walked up to confront Escobedo, shooting him without provocation. LAPD claims they saw a gun, the friend ran, and they feared for their lives. Escobedo died almost instantly when LAPD shot him four times – once to the head.

From the site where Escobedo was killed, the large crowd marched on the route Escobedo would have traveled – if he had lived.

“That’s what he wanted to do, he wanted to get home,” Elizabeth Medrano, Escobedo’s mother. “Tonight, two days’ shy of the anniversary of his death, we will get him there.”

At the end of the peace walk, the crowd wrote messages on white balloons and released them.

“I am grateful for friends, family, community. This is a celebration of his life and I dedicate it to the community of Happy Valley.”

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #Antiracism #ChristianEscobedo

Los Angeles, CA – In an outrageous decision, the jury sided with two-time killer and Los Angeles Police Department officer Eden Medina. The civil rights violations trial on 14-year-old Jesse Romero's killing started November 13 and lasted only six days. Early in the preceding, a judge ruled to exclude key evidence from the proceedings.

Killed on August 9, 2016 Jesse Romero was visiting his friends at the apartment complex in Boyle Heights. Someone inside of the apartment complex called 911 saying Romero and another teen were potentially smoking marijuana and graffitiing. LAPD officers Eden Medina and backup partner Alejandro Higareda bought the call and snuck up on Romero.

“No, I didn’t see him committing a crime when we got there,” said Officer Medina during the trial. But that didn’t stop him from killing Romero.

In 2016, news of multiple killings by LAPD in Boyle Heights were on the rise. These killings included the murder of young Chicano Omar Gonzalez – who Medina had also killed just 12 days before Romero’s killing. Knowing the historic role cops have played in killing Chicanos, Latinos, and Blacks, Romero ran for his life. The pursuit ended with what an eyewitness and Boyle Heights resident verified as a cold-blooded killing.

The trial

Fighting back tears, Norma Gonzalez, an eyewitness to the killing, said, “It was a complete surrender by the kid, with his hands up in the air. They shot him twice and I was yelling, ‘Why did you kill him!’ They didn't have to kill him.”

The jury didn't seem to care about this witness’ statement, even though she was the only witness to take the stand who saw the actual shooting.

Represented by his cop union, LAPD officer Eden Medina was equipped with an all-white legal team. Jesse Romero's family was represented by Chicano Attorney Humberto Guizar and a great, mostly oppressed nationality legal team.

Lawyers representing LAPD officer Eden Medina presented the case as the necessary killing of a typical gangster, looking to ambush two cops. “He refused to follow commands. Even using profanity didn't stop him,” said a Medina attorney.

They did everything possible to make the jury lose sympathy for Romero, even arguing that 14-year old Romero had the build of an adult male. LAPD officers Medina and Higareda are both larger in build, height, and were much older than Romero. Boyle Heights has a 35% obesity rate due to poverty and inadequate access to recreational sites. However, Medina’s deposition acknowledged that he knew Romero was between the ages of 13-16.

LAPD expert witness Ed Flosi testified that when using deadly force, a cop must have, “Reverence for life, all life.” A stealth nod to the “All Lives Matter” phrase used by racists.

Medina’s lawyers used a disgusting baseball analogy for R omero’s killing and trial. Saying, “Let's think of it like you're at a baseball game. And you're mad at the umpire because of the call he made. Now suppose the umpire dies and now you as the jurors become the umpires. You now must be fair and make the calls. The people sitting here supporting Romero's family are like the fans supporting their favorite team.”

After closing statements, Medina’s attorneys argued to Judge Dolly Gee that Romero’s parents were inadequate parents and should not be awarded a cent by the city of Los Angeles. Judge Gee denied the request.

After only a few hours, the jury returned to announce they were unanimous in deciding against Romero’s family. U.S. Marshalls were called to secure the courtroom upon the reading of the verdict.

Present throughout the trial were other mothers who had also lost their children at the hands of police or sheriffs. Taking every moment of the trial personally, including the decision, these mothers gave Romero’s parents utmost support.

Upon exiting the final day of the verdict, a group of Romero supporters chanted, “Say his name! Jesse Romero!” to which no security guard at the federal courthouse dared challenge.

Next steps

Centro CSO, with allies like Black Lives Matter, held daily protests outside the U.S. courthouse before entering to observe the trial.

Humberto Guizar, the Romero family attorney, will file an appeal asking for a new trial. The basis for the appeal is the court did not allow the entering of evidence on the prior killing of Omar Gonzalez by Eden Medina 12 days earlier.

Centro CSO and other families will continue to demand justice by demanding District Attorney Jackie Lacey prosecute killer cops and by continuing the struggle, protesting in the streets and in the courts.

During closing statements Attorney Guizar surmised, “When a dead boy is not here to speak, we rely on the living and what they witnessed. The law is good but only to these killers because it gives the LAPD the privilege to defend themselves when killing our kids.”

Sol Márquez is a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Centro CSO, and a fighter for Chicano liberation.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #LAPD #JesseRomero #EdenMedina

Los Angeles, CA – The civil trial by Jesse Romero's parents against LAPD officer Eden Medina and the City of Los Angeles started at the U.S. Courthouse on November 13. After five days of dramatic testimony and police video recordings, as of mid-day November 19, the jury has reported they are not agreeing yet on a decision. It appears the jury is split and the judge has asked them to continue deliberating.

Jesse Romero was 14 years old when LAPD officer Eden Medina shot and killed him. This happened on August 9, 2016, at a very busy intersection in Boyle Heights. Testimony during the trial included an eye-witness who saw Romero surrendering with his hands up, as Officer Medina shot him twice. Officer Medina killed two young Chicanos within two weeks, Romero being his second victim.

The eight-member jury began deliberations into Friday evening, and returned today, Monday, November 19. Around 11:30 this morning, the jury stated they were not unanimous on a decision. As of now the jury has returned to deliberations in the hopes that a unanimous decision is made. If there is not a unanimous decision, a mistrial or hung jury may occur.

Sol Márquez is a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Centro CSO, and a fighter for Chicano liberation.

#LosAngelesCA #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #LAPD #Antiracism #JesseRomero