Weekly Email 3/27-4/3/2023

This Week’s BLMLA Actions/Events (3/27/23-4/3/23):

  • MONDAY, 3/27/2023 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 justice for #KendrecMcDade and demand the City Council fire the police officers who murdered #AnthonyMcClain. 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 3/28, 3/29 & 3/30/2023 at 10AM – City Council Meeting at 200 N. Main St. – Come out to the city council meetings to raise your voice during public comment, at city hall every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 9:30am.
    *You must have proof of COVID vaccination and ID to enter City Hall.

  • WEDNESDAY, 3/29/2023 at 8:30AM – Court Support for Black Lives Matter Grassroots v. (BLM) Global Network Foundation at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Department 19 – Stand with the movement against the thieves that stole Black Lives Matter’s resources and communications platforms. Now GNF has filed a motion in an attempt to block us from even getting a day in court. This first court hearing of our lawsuit against them will determine if we can move forward.

  • WEDNESDAY, 3/29/2023 at 4PM – #EndPoliceAssociations at 1313 W. 8th St. – “Honoring Black Women in the Struggle” is this week’s theme as we work to topple police associations…111 weeks and counting! 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, 4/1/2023 8-10AM – This Is Not a Drill! on KBLA Talk 1580AM or facebook.com/BLMLA – It’s April Fool’s Day and we’re going to talk about the importance of laughter in the movement! Comedian Shang is our guest. #MoreThanAHashtag conversation with the family of #WakieshaWilson. Our own Dr. Melina Abdullah hosts, with Kim Holmes in the cohost chair.

Upcoming:

  • WEDNESDAY, 4/5/2023 at 8:30AM – Court Support for Black Lives Matter Grassroots v. “Shalomyah” Bowers at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Department 19 – Stand with the movement against the head thief who stole Black Lives Matter’s resources and communications platforms and paid himself at least $2.2 million in 2020 alone. Bowers, along with the (BLM) Global Network Foundation has filed a motion in an attempt to block us from even getting a day in court. This follows this week’s court hearing against the Global Network Foundation.

Update:

  • Stop LAPD Spying Coalition has launched a new online database called Watch The Watchers, that allows users to look up an LAPD officer’s serial number, age, rank, year of hire, area, and headshot. This is extraordinary work conducted by the coalition, to bring public information to a public site and ensure that community members are able to look up the officers surveilling their community or who have harmed/killed community members in the past. Visit watchthewatchers.net.

Recap:

  • At our annual Black Women Are Divine gathering in Norman Houston Park, we celebrated the beauty, strength, wisdom, and power of Black women, with the start of it being a tribute to our ancestors through libations and powerful messages from the wise and courageous Sister Bianca, Breonna’s aunt. Our spirits were lifted by the soulful performances of Rickie Byars, Maya Jupiter, Aloe Blacc, Yazmin Monet Watkins, Kayo, Pastor Cue, The Era Queens, Shaavani, and BLMLA member Chris Martin. The food prepared lovingly by @wattscoffeehouse was delicious, nourishing, and fueled us during this celebration of Black women's divinity. As the sun began to set, we came together for the day's grand finale, the Samba dance, which filled our hearts with joy, gratitude, and appreciation for the divine Black women we are. We laughed, smiled, hugged, and hyped each other up, feeling happy, healthy, and appreciated.

  • Last Wednesday’s “Fund Services, Not Police” rally to #EndPoliceAssociations honored Black Women’s History Month and was the third protest of the month, which means we were joined by Project Knucklehead drummers! Even as the rain poured, almost 50 folks demanded justice in the name of all those killed by murderous police.

  • Last Saturday’s This Is Not A Drill discussed the “Beyond Recovery” plan and the fight for our schools on the heels of the successful strike and agreement reached by LAUSD educational workers from SEIU Local 99. Dr. Melina Abdullah was joined in conversation with Jailynn Butler-Thomas, 11th grader at Dorsey High School, Ashley Edwards of Students Deserve and Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, and Jsanè Tyler, BSAP Counselor at Hamilton HS and SEIU Local 99 member. Kim Holmes held it down in the co-host chair. Missed it? Watch here.

Megan Castillo