Weekly Email (8/16/2021-8/23/2021)

This Week’s BLMLA Actions/Events (8/15/2021-8/23/2021):

  • SUNDAY, 8/15/2021 at 12PM – Freedom Ride for Crenshaw, Meet at the iHop Parking Lot 3625 Stocker St. – There’s less than a week to stop the sale of the Crenshaw mall to the racist and gentrifying developers #DavidSchwartzman and his oligarch financial partner #LenBlavatnik. Join Downtown Crenshaw for a car caravan to protest the sale and let these gentrifiers know HANDS OFF OUR MALL!

  • SUNDAY, 8/15/2021 at 7PM – Black Lives Matter General Monthly Meeting, Chuco’s Justice Center 7625 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001 – In commemoration of Black August, organize for Black liberation! Join Black Lives Matter’s monthly meeting to honor our freedom fighters and learn about ways to plug into the work. We welcome ALL Black folks, non-Black allies, elders, youth, families, new people, returning and standing members. Closed to law enforcement, media, elected officials and their staff, and haters. Donations welcome, but not required. Free vegan dinner and produce boxes provided by Vegan Outreach. ASL translation by Pro Bono ASL.

  • MONDAY, 8/16/2021 at 4:30PM – Pasadena City Council Meeting on zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/161482446 – August 15th marks the angelversary of #AnthonyMcClain, who was killed by the Pasadena Police department. We need all hands on deck to show up to this week’s Pasadena City Council meeting and demand that they 1) Call for the immediate firing and prosecution of Officer Edwin Dumaguindin 2) Accept the resignation of Police Chief Perez EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, and 3) Remove City Manager Steve Mermell. Please submit a speaker card prior to the public comment period at the link here. To participate by phone, call 1-669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 161 482 446.

  • TUESDAY, 8/17/2021 at 9:30AM – Los Angeles Police Commission Meeting on Zoom at https://lapd.zoom.us/s/289225944 – On Saturday, Proud Boys, anti-vaxxers, Recall Newsomdemonstraters...aka white supremacists...attacked counter protesters and journalists in front of the LAPD Headquarters with little to no police pushback. In fact, the police were seen guarding them, despite one white supremacist stabbing counter protesters. When righteous protesters take the streets against police brutality, they often witness and experience the same brutality that they’re protesting against. Just weeks ago at the Wi Spa protests LAPD shot a woman with rubber bullets at close range. In Echo Park back in March, the police mobilized a small army and converged on protesters with their batons, eventually arresting 180 people. At Day 13 of BLMLA’s #BlockGarcetti protest, the police brutalized our folks–a crowd full of Black and Brown women, children and vulnerable protesters–in a dog pile. But when white supremacists assault, kick, and stab people right outside of LAPD’s door, they do nothing. This is the kind of department that Chief Michel Moore operates. This is the racist, white supremacist and last vestige of chattel slavery mindset that can not be undone with reform. Let’s make public comment demanding the commission #FireChiefMoore for his failed leadership and complicity in running a racist department that protects white supremacy and criminalizes Blackness. Coalition talking points here. Please use the “raise hand” function to speak. To participate by phone, call (855) 880-1246, Meeting ID: 289 225 944. Press *9 to be put in the cue for public comment.

  • WEDNESDAY, 8/18/2021 at 3PM (and every Wednesday) – Fund Services, Not Police! #EndPoliceAssociations at 1313 W. 8th St., Los Angeles – This week’s action will focus on #SB2 – The Kenneth Ross Jr. Decertification Bill that will take away the guns and badges of cops that engage in misconduct, like killing or brutalizing our people! Police associations are threatened by SB2 and are trying to fight it because it will bring actual accountability to the families of those who experience police violence. But ain’t no power like the power of the people cause the power of the people don’t stop! Wear masks and bring your bodies, spirits, energy, drums, signs, flags and dedication. If you’re not able to come out, engage in virtual protest by tuning in to the action on Instagram Live @blmlosangeles.

Megan Castillo