Dear friends, check out some of the work we have been doing!
On Saturday (2/5), the Coalition presented our report, Automating Banishment: The Surveillance and Policing of Looted Land to the Empowerment Council West Area (ECWA) Neighborhood Council. The neighborhood council oversees the Crenshaw Corridor, an area of focus in the report. The Coalition is continuing to share our information with the community, if you would like us to discuss the report with your organization or community group fill out this google form.
Later that day, the Coalition joined Streetwatch’s community day in Hollywood to build community power against a brand new 41.18 enforcement zone. Our comrade, Tiff, led attendees in an examination of the LAPD’s usage of SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment) to operationalize the criminalization of communities. Tiff showed the example of how SARA was used to criminalize a Vons grocery store near the event venue. Streetwatch members have been participating in Coalition work group meetings around SARA documents. We look forward to continuing to build with them.
Tuesday’s War (2/8) on Youth webinar provided listeners with an update on the ongoing fight against TVTP (Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention) and the expansion of the LAPD PATHE (Providing Alternatives to Hinder Extremism) program. The Coalition and our partners at the Palestinian Youth Movement, Vigilant Love, and BAJI sent our organizational sign-on letter to the City Council. We were able to get 37 organizations to sign on!
To view the organizational sign on letter head on over to tinyurl.com/RejectTVTP. We ask that folks sign and share our petition at tinyurl.com/RejectTVTPPetition.
The second half of Tuesday’s webinar was a continuation of our collective learning series Part 3 A around Automating Banishment. Mamta and Hamid led attendees in a discussion focusing on the use of CNAP (Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program), data-driven policing’s LASER zones, to target Black neighborhoods for white capital and the expansion of police terror and surveillance. Part 3 B will continue the Tues Feb 22nd Webinar. We will be further discussing the role of Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) and their role in assault on unhoused communities. You can find the study guides for our report here.
On Thursday (2/10) the Coalition along with LA CAN and BLM-LA released a letter condemning the LAPD’s sham reform regarding pretextual stops. The letter exposes the perpetuation of LAPD abuse under the guise of proposed reform and demands the LA Police Commission to reject this proposal. You can read the letter here.
On Friday (2/11) the Coalition’s Hamid Khan facilitated a fascinating conversation with Steve Diaz, organizer with LA CAN; Dr. Deshonay Dozier, professor at CSU Long Beach; Shakeer Rahman organizer at Stop LAPD Spying Coalition; and Mike Davis professor Emeritus at UC Riverside about our report Automating Banishment: The Surveillance and Policing of Looted Land, hosted by Haymarket Books. If you missed this INCREDIBLE discussion, watch it here. Start at 32:12 minute mark.
Later that evening the Coalition supported NOlympics LA in an action at the Los Angeles Convention Center condemning the Super Bowl here in Los Angeles. Speakers called out the overwhelming police presence at the venue, including federal agencies, and how the Super Bowl serves to brutalize and displace Angelenos.
To plugin with any of the workgroups listed above, email us at [email protected].
If you or your organization are interested in hosting a teach-in or discussion regarding our report please fill out this google form.