Weekly Email 11/4-11/11/2024
BLMLA Actions/Events (11/04/2024 – 11/11/2024):
TUESDAY, 11/05/2024 at 9:30AM - Los Angeles Police Commission Meeting at LAPD Headquarters, 100 W. 1st St. - Join the LAPC Fails Coalition, including Black Lives Matter-LA, Stop LAPD Spying, White People 4 Black Lives, LA CAN, and allies, as we show up and call out the LA Police Commission for refusing to hold killer cops accountable after they steal our loved ones and take much-needed resources away from our community. Join us in the struggle by making your voice heard during public comment. DEFUND THE POLICE!
Tuesday, 11/05/2024 at 2PM - #EndPoliceAssociations Rally at Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street Room 383 - This special End Police Associations rally will be led by our girls and gender-expansive youth as we demand an end to youth detention and that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors “Free the 50,” being held at Los Padrinos Detention Center. Join families of those killed by police, BLM organizers and allies, and community partners for this special edition of our #EndPoliceAssociations rally outside of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. Police are tools of the oppressor, meant to threaten and exact violence on the workers of the world. Bring your voice, your energy, and a few friends as we chant down the Los Angeles Police Protective League and the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs.
Friday, 11/8/2024 at 10AM – Protest the Appointment of LAPD Chief-Nominee Jim McDonnell at LA City Council, 200 N. Main St., 3rd Floor – There could be no worse candidate for LAPD Chief than Jim McDonnell and the mayor is proposing a salary of more than $500,000 to boot! Stand with BLMLA and People’s City Council to make public comment demanding that City Council refuse to confirm him.
Saturday, 11/09/2024 8-10AM - This Is Not a Drill! on KBLA 1580 AM - Our beloved Sister Melina is back in the host chair! She’ll be unpacking the election results with none other than Independent Candidate for President Dr. Cornel West! Cat Brooks of Anti Police-Terror Project will be running through the headlines from the co-host chair. #MoreThanAHashtag conversation with the family of #FrankTyson, whose killer cop was recently charged and arrested in Canton, Ohio. Tune in to This Is Not a Drill! every Saturday from 8-10AM on KBLA Talk 1580 AM or facebook.com/BLMLA. Catch the show every Saturday from 8-10 AM on KBLA or on Facebook at facebook.com/BLMLA.
SUNDAY, 11/10/2024 at 7:00 PM – Organizing Meeting! at BLMLA’s Center for Black Power, 3423 W. 43rd Place in AfricaTown (Leimert Park) – We’ll debrief the election and plan for what’s next at this month’s organizing meeting. Black Xmas is also on the agenda. Elders, youth, ALL Black folks, non-Black allies, members, and new folks are all welcome. Free hot dinner and fresh produce bags to take. Closed to cops, media, elected officials, their staff, and haters.
Recap:
Last Tuesday, community members attended the Los Angeles City Council's Public Safety Committee meeting to express opposition to the nomination of Jim McDonnell as the next Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. Concerns were raised about McDonnell's tenure as Los Angeles County Sheriff and his approach to law enforcement. Despite these objections, the committee voted to advance McDonnell's nomination to the full City Council for final consideration. We will continue to fight until our communities are led by those who serve justice and accountability, not prejudice and oppression.
Last Tuesday evening, Prince Akili, cofounder of the Black Lives Matter Prison Chapter, addressed the District Attorney’s African American Advisory Board at WLCAC, highlighting how the DA’s office must align more closely with the needs of Black communities. The fruitful discussion focused on how the outcome of this election will shape the DA’s future engagement with our community.
Last Wednesday, we joined a coalition of women’s organizations, including Black Women for Wellness and Women’s March Action, alongside journalist Jasmyne Cannick, to take action against Kevin de León. We collectively denounced De Leon’s hiring of women-beater Najee Ali, calling out his misogyny and criminal behavior and Kevin’s own targeting of his opponent and her 14-year-old daughter.
Last Wednesday, families of those killed by police, BLMLA organizers, and allies gathered for the #EndPoliceAssociations rally. We stood in solidarity to demand an end to police associations like the Los Angeles Police Protective League, raising our voices against their role in enabling state violence.
Last Saturday, This Is Not a Drill! aired on KBLA 1580 AM, hosted by Baba Akili and co-hosted by Sheila Bates. The episode focused on the 2024 Los Angeles County District Attorney race, discussing its implications for the community. Guests included Dr. Melina Abdullah, attorney Tiffany Blacknell, and Prince Akili of the BLM Prison Chapter, whose life was transformed after he was released as a result of DA Gascon’s progressive policies. Missed it? Watch here or listen to BLM’s This Is Not a Drill! wherever you get your podcasts.