Weekly Email 2/10/25-2/14/25

BLMLA Actions/Events (02/10/2025 – 02/16/2025):

  • Monday, 2/10/2025 at 6PM - Demand Long-Term Support for Eaton Fire Victims at Pasadena City Council, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Room S249, Pasadena - Demand that the Pasadena Convention Center remain open as temporary shelter under improved conditions and that those displaced be moved to permanent supportive housing. You can also join online at cityofpasadena.net/cczoom or phone at 559-900-6833. Let’s “Bring ‘Dena Back Black(er)!”

  • Wednesday, 2/12/2025 at 4 PM - #EndPoliceAssociations Rally at 1313 W. 8th St - Join families of those killed by police, BLM organizers and allies, and community partners for our #EndPoliceAssociations rally as we work to make Black History by ending police violence. 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.

  • Saturday, 2/15/2025 at 8AM - This is Not a Drill! on KBLA 1580 AM - Tune in to This Is Not a Drill! Saturday from 8-10 AM on KBLA Talk 1580 AM or https://www.facebook.com/blmla. This week’s episode will delve into the “Black History of Black History Month” with Dr. D. Brown and Dr. Serie McDougal of the Pan-African Studies Department at Cal State LA’s College of Ethnic Studies. Our own Dr. Melina Abdullah hosts.

  • Sunday, 2/16/2025 4-6PM - “We Keep Us Safe” Black Community Safety Workshop at BLMLA’s Center for Black Power, 3423 W 43rd Place in Africa Town (Leimert Park) - In the face of fascism we must stay ready! Learn vital self-defense and community safety planning from one of the best Black community defense leaders in the nation. Black folks have priority for this one.

  • Sunday, 2/16/2025 at 7PM - Monthly Organizing Meeting at BLMLA’s Center for Black Power, 3423 W 43rd Place in Africa Town (Leimert Park)  - This month’s meeting will focus on the Black History of Black Community Safety and its importance in an era of violent white-supremacy and fascism. All are welcome, including new folks, returning BLM members, non-Black allies, elders, youth, and families. There will be a free hot dinner and produce bags for all who attend. No police, media, elected officials, their staff and haters allowed.

Upcoming:

  • Saturday, 2/22/2025 at 11AM - Protect Black Students with Students Deserve at St. Mark’s Church, 3651 S. Vermont Ave. - Join us and the Police-Free LAUSD Coalition for a major day of action on February 22nd as we come together to fight for Black students’ safety and success! Stand up against LAUSD’s failure to deliver on the promises of the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP). It’s time to Put the Black Back in BSAP and invest in community-based safety. Register here: bit.ly/protectbsapfeb22.

Recap:

  • Last week Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and Students Deserve celebrated a victory! The principal of Lawrence Middle School has been REMOVED! Former Principal Flores enabled anti-Black hate crimes against students and the brutal beating of Black 8th grader Sal’vyion Torres by a white-supremacist parent. On December 6th, Sal’Vyion, a 13 year-old Black boy, was violently assaulted by 45 year-old white supremacist father, John Morreale, on campus. This act of racial terrorism came after several escalating incidents of anti-Black harassment by Morreale targeting Sal’Vyion and his friend Gregory. Despite these incidents, the school administration did nothing to stop the attacks, hold Morreale accountable, or protect the boys from anti-Black assaults. The removal of principal Torres comes from the organizing work of Black parents and the NAACP of San Fernando Valley, Students Deserve, BLMLA, and Black Lives Matter Grassroots.

  • Last Wednesday, families of those killed by police, BLMLA organizers, and allies gathered for the FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY of our #EndPoliceAssociations rally. For four years straight, we have organized alongside our allies EVERY WEDNESDAY. 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. The rally was followed by a celebration and a strategy session.

  • Last Saturday, This Is Not a Drill! aired on KBLA 1580 AM, hosted by Joseph Williams from BLMLA and Students Deserve and Sierra Leone Anderson from Students Deserve and the BLM Youth Vanguard. Guests Eliza Jane Franklin, mother of Gregory King and Rev. Dr. James Thomas, President of the NAACP of the San Fernando Valley and BLMLA member, talked about anti-Blackness in LAUSD and how to protect and support our youth. #MoreThanAHashtag with the family of former NFL Saints player #GlennFosterJr. Watch here or listen to BLM’s This Is Not a Drill! Wherever you get your podcasts.

BLMLA in Media and Must-Reads:

#BlackHistoryMonth

#PeoplesBudget

#TrayvonMartin

#Superbowl2025

Tune in:

  • Move the Crowd airs every Monday morning at 7AM on 90.7FM KPFK kpfk.org, hosted by our own Sister Melina and co-produced by Sister Tyler Boudreaux. Listener calls around 7:40 at 818-985-5735.

  • Tune in to BLM’s This Is Not a Drill! every Saturday 8-10AM on KBLA Talk 1580, kbla1580.com, facebook.com/blmla, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Black Lives Matter is truly a labor of love, and our work produces real expenses. To support our work, please donate to gofundme.com/BLMLA and donate here to support the work of Black Lives Matter Grassroots.

Hannibal Tabu