Weekly Email 2/13-2/20/2023

This Week’s BLMLA Actions/Events (2/13/23-2/21/23):

  • MONDAY, 2/13/2023 at 4:30PM – Demand Justice for #AnthonyMcClain at the Pasadena City Council Meeting on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/161482446 – Call in to the Pasadena City Council meeting and demand the City Council fire the police officers who murdered #AnthonyMcClain following a traffic stop. Please submit speaker cards 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, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY 2/14, 2/15 & 2/17/2023 at 10AM – City Council Meeting at 200 N. Main St. – Business cannot continue as usual with racist, disgraced City Councilmember Kevin de Léon still on the Council! Even after an 18-day encampment, led by BLMLA ran him out of his house, after everyone from councilmembers to the President released statements imploring him to step down for his racist remarks in the October 2022 audio leak scandal and attempt to derail Black power in a redistricting scheme, he continues on the Council and votes on behalf of the 14th district. Show up to every City Council meeting and make public comment demanding Kevin de Léon’s resignation from council immediately.

*You must have proof of COVID vaccination and ID to enter City Hall.

  • TUESDAY, 2/14/2023 at 9:30AM – Los Angeles Police Commission Meeting on Zoom at https://lapd.zoom.us/s/289225944 – Against the community’s wishes, LAPD Chief Moore has been re-appointed for an additional five year term. Commissioners are supposed to provide “oversight” of LAPD and bring community input to decisions on public safety. We need you to show up every Tuesday morning and demand the commissioners listen to community and make #BlackLivesMatter. 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, 2/15/2023 at 4PM – #EndPoliceAssociations at 1313 W. 8th St. – Join us in calling an end to the police associations that jockey for more than half of the city budget, that block any meaningful reform and shield killer cops from accountability using qualified immunity. Police associations must be removed from the house of labor! Bring your voices, your energy, and your commitment to building a just and free world, where police associations no longer have control over public safety policy. Wear a mask! Snacks and water provided! Streamed live on Instagram at @blmlosangeles. Every Wednesday at 4pm!

  • SATURDAY, 2/18/2023 8-10AM – This Is Not a Drill! on KBLA Talk 1580AM or facebook.com/BLMLA – Talking about the AP African American Studies course, DeSantis BS in Florida, and the many sides to the debate with Dr. Greg Carr of Howard University and Dr. Roslyn Satchel of Kennesaw State. Our own Dr. Melina Abdullah hosts with Kim Holmes in the co-host chair.


Upcoming and Ongoing:

  • SATURDAY, 3/18/2023 12-4PM  – 3rd Annual Black Women Are Divine Gathering at Norman Houston Park  – Join an afternoon of loving on Black women in the name of #BreonnaTaylor. Black women will receive gifts of song, healing, joy, lunch, and reminders of how absolutely divine we are. Everyone else is invited to bring flowers, candles, treats, gifts, cards, and ways to show Black women how much love and honor is felt. Have items to donate or gifts to give? Email info@blmla.org.


Recap:

  • Last Friday about 30 BLMLA organizers and several of the families of those stolen by police violence met with Mayor Karen Bass to voice our discontent with the reappointment of LAPD Chief Michel Moore and set forward our public safety priorities. The meeting was hosted by the Los Angeles Sentinel. More to come!

  • Last Sunday, Black Lives Matter-LA hosted a roller skate event called For the Love of Community in Africa Town. The event was an outpouring of Black love and joy. Folks came early for the skate, and stayed late to dismantle state sanctioned violence against our people at the monthly organizing meeting at the Center for Black Power. We distributed hot meals and grocery bags, and also provided sound bath and group acupuncture.

  • Last Saturday’s This Is Not A Drill discussed the 31st annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival. Hosted at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills, the film festival runs from February 9th - February 20th. The conversation included the Pan African Film Festival co-founder and executive director Ayuko Babu and Aminah Bakeer Abdul-Jabbaar, filmmaker and professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA. Hosted by our very own Dr. Melina Abdullah, with Kim Holmes in the co-host chair. Missed it? Watch here.

Megan Castillo