Greetings friends, check out what we’ve been up to:
On Saturday (7/15) the Coalition held our second monthly Youth Day at the Park. This month participants screen printed tee shirts, created musical instruments using everyday supplies, and engaged in a nature scavenger hunt.
On Monday (7/17), Union Del Barrio a group comprised of and representing the South Central community impacted by the blast, held a rally and press conference this past Monday demanding justice for the displacement of their community members. Stop LAPD Spying was grateful to be there to support protesters and we were thrilled to see our community resource watchthewatchers.net used to disseminate the images of these previously hidden officers.
On Tuesday (7/18) the Coalition attended the Board of Police Commissioners meeting. There was no mention of the 27th and San Pedro explosion or the release of the officers’ identities during this week’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting. Nor was there any mention of another LA Times article released this week that detailed how Damien Smith an actor and documentary filmmaker working on a film about police brutality was tased by LAPD after calling them for help. Smith, a Black man, was placed in handcuffs and placed into the back of a police car despite cries from his neighbor that he was in fact the person that called for help. Commissioner Lou Calanche attempted to bring up the article but was quickly shut down by Commissioner President Briggs.
The commission also failed to bring up a false news report shared by ABC 7 local news, that purported that LAPD officers were hospitalized after suffering from side effects of meth exposure. A story clearly meant to demonize drug users and fuel the ongoing manufactured narrative about threats to officer safety.
That evening, we held our monthly general meeting in-person at LA CAN. We invited community members to learn about the different facets of our fight, and provided opportunities for folks to plug-in and join the fight.
Thursday’s (7/20) episode of Radio Insurrection on KPFK featured an incredible conversation with Lynn and Jordan, two attorneys involved in the Star Garden’s strippers successful effort to unionize. The pair recounted the incredible and empowering journey the dancers undertook to address poor labor conditions and ensure their labor is valued. You can listen to the episode at kpfk.org/archives/
Later that day we continued our internship with Fairfax High School’s Peace and Social Justice Club . Students continued to explore the history of the Coalition’s work and discussed potential popular education tools that they would like to create.
On Friday (7/21) the students learned about the California Public Records Act and how the Coalition uses this tool to fight against the police surveillance state.
To plug in with any of the work groups listed above, or for more information about the Stop
LAPD Spying Coalition, email us at stoplapdspying@gmail.com.
If you or your organization are interested in hosting a teach-in or discussion regarding our report, Automating Banishment, please fill out this google form.