The National Day to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation was this past Tuesday, October 22nd. The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition joined several other community members at the O22 rally and march on Crenshaw Blvd., organized by the LA Chapter of the October 22nd Coalition.
At the event the Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) presented research from 2007-2012 revealing that over 230 community members were killed from officer-involved shootings in the City of Los Angeles alone. This murderous epidemic, disproportionately affecting young people of color plagues communities across the nation.
October 22 is a critical day of action for our communities to defend ourselves and our families from state-sanctioned violence, but even more pivotal is our ability and necessity to continue to grow this movement on a daily basis, all year round.
On Tuesday, the Coalition also presented at both the Echo Park and Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council meetings. Because LAPD policies remain invisible in the public domain, coalition members spoke of the importance of Neighborhood Councils in facilitating outreach to make regional communities aware of the recent decision by the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission (HRC) decision to hold public hearings on LAPD’s Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) program, gang injunctions and other public safety issues. This is an opportunity for our communities to take ownership of this process, and ensure accountability and transparency in public policy. If you’d like to inform your neighborhood council about the coming public forums and the Coalition’s work – please send an email to stoplapdspying@gmail.com or call 562-230-4578.
That same evening our partners in the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, the Youth Justice Coalition held a rally, march, community outreach in front of Compton City hall and attended the Compton City Council Meeting to present a resolution to end sheriff violence, hire intervention workers, and re-open the youth center in the City of Compton. Family members of Jose de La Trinidad, shot 7 times in the back and killed by Compton Sheriffs, were present to speak for justice.
Upcoming Events and Meetings
This Saturday, October 26th, the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition will join Standing Together and Advocating for Our Youth (S.T.A.Y.) Ride for Freedom against gang injunctions and will also be in front the Old Rampart Station at 4:45 pm, one of the scheduled stops of the bike ride. It’s time to reclaim this location from its history of violence and brutality.
We invite you and your organization(s) to join us at the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition’s next Monthly Meeting on Tuesday November 19th at 6:30 pm at LA CAN – 530 S. Main St, L.A. CA 90013.