Weekly Email 2/19/25-2/26/25

Now is the time to double down on Black History Month and Black power. We invite you to engage in our #BlackHistoryMatters campaign - daily mini-political education posts on @blmgrassroots, which are offered through our partnership with Dr. Charles Davis and Scholars 4 Black Lives. And everyday is an opportunity to make Black history, through collective radical imagining and building towards a world of Black freedom. Participate in at least one action this week to make sure that even as we celebrate Black history, we also forge free Black futures.

TAKE ACTION!

  • Support Black Families Affected by the #EatonFire - Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and Black Lives Matter Pasadena are providing direct support to Black families who have lost their homes due to the fires. Donate at gofundme.com/blmla

  • Sign up for texts from Black Lives Matter Grassroots - Sign up to receive urgent updates and periodic texts from BLM Grassroots. Don’t miss out on the action. We promise not to overwhelmed your phone and send only occasional messages about urgent actions/events and important calls to action to MAKE #BlackLivesMatter! tinyurl.com/BLMGrassrootsTexts

  • Complete and share the People’s Budget Survey - We want to hear from you! As Los Angeles reckons with devastating loss from the fires and approaches a new budget season that will determine recovery, Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles wants to learn how you want our tax dollars spent? Do you want LAPD to continue to take almost 50% of the City’s general fund? OR do you want to prioritize housing, road infrastructure, mental health, and more? Complete the survey at peoplesbudgetla.com/survey then share it with your folks and on your social media.

BLMLA Actions/Events (02/17/2025 – 02/23/2025):

  • Wednesday, 2/19/2025 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. Bring your voice, your energy, and a few friends as we chant down the Los Angeles Police Protective League. Project Knucklehead drums and leads this week’s action!

  • 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 Monday, BLMLA and BLM-Pasadena was part of the community that showed up to the Pasadena City Council meeting to demand that the Pasadena Convention Center remain open as temporary shelter under improved conditions and that those displaced be moved to permanent supportive housing. Continue to follow and join the work to support displaced Black families in Altadena and Pasadena @blmlosangeles. Let’s bring back ‘Dena Back Black(er)!

  • Last Wednesday, families of those killed by police, BLMLA organizers, and allies gathered for our weekly #EndPoliceAssociations rally. In celebration of Black History Month, we continue to honor our Ancestors and those who have fought before us and those whom we continue to fight for. 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 1580AM and was hosted by our very own Dr. Melina Abdullah, with renowned scholar, Dr. Gerald Horne, to discuss the Black History of Black History and ways in which Pan-Africanism can be essential to furthering our collective fight against racism and fascism. #MoreThanAHashtag conversation was held with the mother of Sr. Airman #RogerFortson. Missed it? Watch here. 

  • Last Sunday, BLMLA hosted the  “We Keep Us Safe” Black Community Safety Workshop at the Center for Black Power, followed by our monthly BLMLA organizing meeting focusing on Black History Month. Nearly 100 folks joined to learn vital self-defense and community safety planning from one of the best Black community defense leaders in the nation.

BLMLA in Media and Must-Reads:

#BlackHistoryMonth

Altadena Fires

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. 

Hannibal Tabu