Santa Ana, CA – On March 18, over 45 people gathered at El Centro Cultural de Mexico and marched half a mile to the Santa Ana Police Department with the family of Noe Rodriguez to protest his unjust killing.

On December 1, 2024, Rodriguez, who was unarmed, was shot over 30 times. The protesters held signs reading “Justice for Noe Rodriguez” and “24/48. Release the names, release the tapes” as they chanted “SAPD you can’t hide! We charge you with homicide!” while they made their way to the front of the police station.

The protest was kicked off by Abraham Quintana from Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC), who stated, “ We are here today to raise the demands of families impacted by police violence, as well as raise demands for our 24/48 campaign, to make a change in police policy regarding officer-involved shootings.”

Quintana went on to explain how Santa Ana PD has not released any sort of police report or officer names to the family of Noe Rodriguez; instead, the information they have released are attempts to slander Rodriguez by discussing his old criminal cases out of context.

CSO OC member Rain Mendoza read and translated Erika Armenta’s speech on the impact this killing has had on their daughters, “Since Noe’s life was taken by Santa Ana PD, our daughters are deprived of the joy of growing up next to their father, of living moments with him. They are deprived of the possibility of their father seeing them as accomplished women and seeing their triumphs. My daughters cry for the loss of their father because he will never return, nothing can bring him back, but we can take comfort in the fact that justice can be served in his memory.”

Armenta ended with some of her demands, saying, “We need to demand that these police killings stop and that they really try to de-escalate. Families like mine are left to pick up the pieces and we have to balance the fight for justice with the fight to stay alive. The police need to take responsibility for their actions, and we need to demand transparency.”

CSO OC speaker Manaal Subhani shed light on other crimes committed by the Santa Ana PD, stating, “In 2017 SAPD falsely claimed that 18-year-old Steve Salgado was armed when Detective David Prewett shot and killed him. They tried to justify that killing by saying Salgado was a gang member at a complex where families and children were present, even though it was the police who did the shooting!”

Subhani also spoke on sexual assault crimes and cover-up committed by Santa Ana PD, recounting the Culichi Town incident.

“In August of 2020, a family including two 15-year-old girls went out to dinner at the Culichi Town restaurant. Off duty police officers including Oscar Lizardi, Jonathan Perez, Dorin Buchanan, Jonathan McKee and Mark Campi sat a few tables away. We know from 911 calls that the family made that each time the girls got up to use the bathroom, one of these officers would sexually harass the girls. When the family called police to respond to the incident, investigators covered for their friends on the force. They muted their body cameras when speaking to each other, and when the family tried to show police cell phone footage of the off-duty officers, the investigators stood in ways that did not allow their cameras to pick up the footage,” said Subhani. The crowd present shouted “Shame!” in response to the crimes committed by SAPD.

Gabriel Quiroz Jr. of Centro CSO's Boyle Heights chapter said, “We aren’t asking for radical things. We want transparency when a police officer kills one of our community members. These are basic things!”

The protesters marched back to El Centro Cultural de Mexico chanting along the way, “When SAPD shoots to kill, families pick up the bill!” and “What do we want? Community control of the police! When do we want it? Now!”

The protest was organized by CSO OC and the wife of Noe Rodriguez. Community members, activists, and Noe’s family were in attendance.

CSO OC, along with working with families impacted by police violence, are working towards fighting for justice, raising the demands of impacted family members, and fighting for community control of the police.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops

Milwaukee, WI – On March 20, the jury in the federal civil trial of the Cole family against killer cop Joseph Mensah could not reach consensus. Mensah was a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin cop when he killed Alvin Cole and is now a detective for Waukesha County. The suit asserts that Mensah used excessive force with Cole, after shooting Cole multiple times at the Mayfair Mall’s parking lot while the latter was on his hands and knees on February 2, 2020.

The trial began on Monday, March 17 with current and former law enforcement officers, witnesses and Cole’s family members testifying. After hearing contradictory statements from Mensah and reviewing the footage, the jury spent many hours deliberating.

Before the jury walked back into the courtroom to communicate with the judge, two armed U.S. Marshals entered the courtroom and stood by the door. Once the jury declared that they could not reach a decision and Judge Adelman ruled for a new trial for September, Cole family attorney Nate Cade raised the issue of the marshals walking in, and Judge Adelman stated he did not know why they entered the courtroom. Many members of the audience also communicated issues with the U.S. Marshals walking in after the court was dismissed.

When asked about the hung jury, Cade said “We are more than ready to try it again.” Tracey Cole, the mother of Alvin Cole stated, “This makes us fight more.” If it wasn’t for the fighting families in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression wouldn’t be the organization it is today. The family of Alvin Cole was the first family the Milwaukee Alliance worked with after its refounding in April of 2020. Long time member and original founder Brian Verdin declared “Milwaukee Alliance is all in for the families.”

The re-trial for this case will take place on September 8 at 9 a.m.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #NAARPR

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, March 19, the Parkchester community came out to an impromptu event in support of Ronald Butler, Donte Butler, Donte Butler Jr., Frederick Simms and Jermaine Irving Jr. These five men were brutally attacked by the Metropolitan Police Department on March 11 after defending their family and are facing multiple charges, including assaulting a police officer.

The Butler family decades before lost a loved one to police murder, and this instance brought up the trauma they faced at that time. However, this time, they are committed to fighting back and ensuring justice.

They are working with the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) and demanding all charges are dropped against their family. They are also insisting the officers involved are fired and convicted, specifically Officer Evan Zelesnick, who was the prime instigator of the brawl, as well as the lieutenant who escalated the incident by arriving on scene and immediately starting to mace the handcuffed family members. The lieutenant’s name was conveniently left off any legal paperwork.

On Wednesday, Daniel Butler, son of Donte Butler Sr. and nephew of Ronald Butler, spoke on the incident and how police consistently terrorize his community, stating, “We been dealing with this pain for decades, generations. Drop all the charges, get all them police outta there. [MPD] looks at us as enemies, been that way for years. We need justice, real justice. You want me to be honest? The police department is the very first organized gang.”

Donna Butler, matriarch of the family, spoke as well, “This right here, this is my family. And this is how we come together when it’s needed. Release my son, he did no wrong. He protected his family, and as I always told my kids, stand ten toes. And right now, [MPD] got him in handcuffs, because he chose to protect his kids, his family, his cousins.”

#WashingtonDC #InJusticeSystem #Police Crimes #KillerCops #NAARPR #DCAARPR

On Thursday, March 6, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office released the bodycam footage detailing the events that took place on the evening of February 8, 2025 resulting in murder of 26-year old Luis Lopez by Orange County deputies.

 Around 11:30 pm, officers arrived at the scene in the Pine Castle neighborhood upon reports of a burglary in progress. The bodycam footage shows that both dispatch and the officers on scene had knowledge that a Spanish interpreter was being used to communicate. One officer found signs of forced entry at the front entrance of the home. At least two officers then entered the backyard and found a ladder propped underneath an open window that the intruder, a disgruntled coworker, had used to enter the home.

 In the video, Luis can be clearly heard shouting “No, no, no!” and “¡Ayuda!” or “Help!” in Spanish. A few moments later, Luis was seen from the window holding the intruder in a headlock. The officers ordered him to “drop the knife,” multiple times in English, a language which Luis did not speak. They each fired a round from their handguns, striking Luis in the head and killing him. No knife was found at the scene.

 Orlando Against Police Crimes strongly condemns the unjust murder of Luis Lopez. We demand that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office release the names of the officers responsible for Luis’ murder. Additionally, we demand State Attorney Monique H. Worrell to press criminal charges against the offending officers.

 Orlando Against Police Crimes is working alongside the friends and family of Luis Lopez to organize a memorial vigil at Lake Ellenor Park on Sunday, March 16 at 2 pm. The vigil will be an opportunity to honor his memory, demand accountability, and call for justice. For more information, visit https://orlandoapc.org

#OrlandoFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #OAPC #NAARPR

Aurora CO – On March 1, during an unseasonably warm Saturday, family members of Kory Dillard and 15 of their supporters gathered outside of the Aurora Municipal Center, for a rally against police crimes.

Dillard, described by attendees as a beloved community member and veteran, was murdered by the Aurora Police Department (APD) on October 3, 2024.

Dillard is survived by his partner Anna Harris, who has been spending the last five months fighting for accountability and justice for Kory. She spoke to the crowd about the false narratives being spread about Dillard by APD Chief Todd Chamberlain, who characterizes Kory as a rock-wielding carjacker. Video evidence of Dillard’s death directly contradicts this false narrative, but Chamberlain evidently seeks to sweep Dillard’s murder under the rug.

“What are these wrongful deaths of Black men,” Harris asked, “but police being the judge, the jury, and the executioner, when the death penalty has been long gone in Colorado?”

The rally was a site of shared grief by another family who has lost loved ones at the hands of APD – the Lewis family.

Kiawa Lewis, the brother of Kilyn Lewis, stood amongst the attendees alongside his daughter. Kilyn was a 37-year-old unarmed Black man who was gunned down by Officer Michael Dieck while working on his car’s sound system just outside his Aurora apartment.

Standing alongside Harris, Lewis spoke, saying, “It's been a tiring road, but the thing is they want to tire us out. But we stand together; we fight together.”

Ryan Stitzel, the chair of Denver-Aurora Community Action Committee (DACAC) took to the megaphone to address District Attorney Amy Padden, saying, “These police historically have not been held accountable when they've done this. When they killed Kilyn Lewis they were not held accountable. When they killed 14-year-old Jor‘Dell Richardson when they pinned him down in an alley and shot him behind a dumpster they were not held accountable, and right now the District Attorney for Arapahoe County is deciding whether or not she's going to hold these killer cops accountable and we're here to say: you must!“

The participants of the rally chanted “Black lives matter!” and “When killer cops are on patrol, how do we stop them? Community control.”

Nels Pine, another member of DACAC, addressed the rally, stating “They write all these horrific lies in the newspaper about Kory Dillard, about Jor’Dell Richardson, where they accuse them of all sorts of crimes. Well, the people accused of those crimes aren't alive to defend themselves against this slander, and so we'll speak the truth. That's the very least we could do, is speak the truth and say that they were never found guilty of anything!”

Pine continued, “They were murdered in the street by police officers who robbed them of their Sixth Amendment right to a trial by a jury of their peers. These crimes by the APD have got to stop.”

The Denver Aurora Community Action Committee ended the rally by reiterating their demands on District Attorney Amy Padden, and reaffirming their commitment to the fight against racist police violence and for community control of the police.

#AuroraCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #NAARPR #DACAC

Brooklyn, NY – Eudes Pierre’s family, friends, and supporters filled the room at the Eastern Parkway library, March 1, for the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression’s (NYAARPR) event, kicking off their new campaign to demand justice for Eudes Pierre.

Eudes Pierre, a 26-year-old Haitian American man was murdered by the NYPD on December 20, 2021, while experiencing a mental health crisis. Pierre had called the police, in clear distress, and when the police arrived, they followed him into and out of the subway station, and then shot him ten times. Despite the fact that police officers were aware that Pierre was experiencing a mental health crisis, they engaged him with extreme force and had tased him multiple times before shooting him.

Pierre’s family has remained steadfast in their demand for justice and accountability, and in their determination to never let this happen again. The family successfully fought to have the street where Pierre grew up named after him and are fighting to implement the Eudes Pierre Law, which would replace police offers with trained peers when it comes to mental health crisis intervention.

The NYPD, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), and the New York attorney general’s office, however, have all played a part in denying justice for Eudes Pierre. When the NYPD murdered Pierre, the attorney general’s office, which had initially promised to investigate and hold the officers accountable, declined to press charges against the shooters, and the CCRB shamefully found the killing to be “within NYPD guidelines.”

The New York Alliance is demanding “Fire and prosecute the cops who killed Eudes Pierre! Police out of mental health responses! Community control of the police now!

Pierre’s cousin, Sheina Banatte, spoke at Saturday’s campaign launch event on behalf of the Justice for Eudes Coalition, alongside Reverend Kevin McCall of the Crisis Action Center, and Sharif Hall, Treasurer for NYAARPR.

When asked what justice for Eudes Pierre looks like, Banatte explained, “true justice would be for Eudes to be here with us now. Second to that, the next highest form would be accountability.” Banatte also said that the campaign for the Eudes Pierre Law is another way to achieve some measure of justice.

“We want to transform how this city does mental health crisis response, so that nobody else gets killed like this. That is another kind of justice,” stated Banatte.

Sharif Hall added, “Eric Adams is also to blame, for continually increasing the police budget, and for working with the police commissioner to prevent any and all accountability.” Sharif also mentioned the case of Caesar Robinson, another Brooklyn-resident who was murdered in his own home by the police, after calling them himself because he thought he was being burglarized. Cases like these clearly show the need for community control over the NYPD.

Rev. McCall discussed a prior, five-day community patrol pilot program that his organization implemented in Brownsville, New York, in which community members responded to calls for assistance, rather than police. This example shows that “community control can happen, if we are organized enough to make it happen.” Rev. McCall also emphasized the importance of staying engaged in community activism, and the need to keep the pressure on elected officials.

Sheina closed out the event with a demand for more investment in community resources, for police to be removed from mental health crisis response, for more police accountability, and for justice for Eudes Pierre.

There will be an event to demand #PeersNotPolice on March 24, and a protest against New York State Attorney General Letitia James on March 31, to mark the two-year anniversary of her decision not to press charges against the officers who murdered Eudes.

#BrooklynNY #NY #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #NAARPR

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Orlando Against Police Crimes.

Orlando Against Police Crimes strongly condemns the murder of 24-year old Luis Lopez by Orange County deputies on the night of Saturday, February 8th in the Pine Castle neighborhood.

Officers arrived following reports of a burglarized home. In a statement to WFTV, a close friend of Lopez, Loida Zunun, said “Some guy was trying to get in his house, and he called my mom,” Zunun said. “He was scared, and he told us, hey, there’s somebody trying to come inside my house.”

Upon arrival, officers found Lopez defending himself with a knife. The deputies fired on Lopez and he was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital.

The two deputies who reported to the scene, including the killer cop remain on paid administrative leave. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the case and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office will conduct its own investigation upon its completion. However, due to the weakening and elimination of already-toothless review boards resulting from Republican-backed legislation like House Bill 601, there lacks a vehicle for independent civilian review and genuine accountability.

“He was just protecting himself. I don’t see another way. He asked for help, and we were trying to help him. He didn’t deserve this,” stated Zunun.

Orlando Against Police Crimes will be mobilizing to the upcoming Orange County Sheriff's Office Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on February 13 to demand justice for Luis Lopez. The family is raising funds for funeral expenses to bring Luis back to his home country of Mexico, you can donate by clicking here.

Justice for Luis Lopez!

Jail the killer cops!

Community control now!

#OrlandoFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #OAPC

Newport Beach, CA – Oficiales del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD, por sus siglas en inglés) persiguieron y luego mataron a José Velásquez, de 45 años, en Newport Beach el sábado 1 de febrero, alrededor de las 7 a.m.

Al menos siete patrullas y un helicóptero policial persiguieron a un vehículo hasta el muelle de Newport, con los policías llegando con las puertas de sus patrullas ya abiertas y con las armas en la mano mientras desaceleraban hasta detenerse. Dispararon más de una docena de tiros antes de dar cualquier orden verbal y antes de que muchos espectadores tuvieron tiempo de huir del muelle.

Los espectadores dijeron que Velásquez conducía tranquilamente y no parecía tener intención de lastimar a nadie. También describieron haber sentido miedo cuando comenzaron los disparos y tener que proteger a sus hijos, y sentirse traumatizados después.

El SAPD declaró que Velásquez era sospechoso de un homicidio en Menifee, California, en su intento por justificar el tiroteo imprudente. El SAPD lo persiguió desde Santa Ana hasta Newport Beach después de recibir una llamada por asistencia del Departamento de Policía de Menifee.

Junto con los dos departamentos de policía, estaba presente un camión de la oficina del fiscal de distrito (DA, por sus siglas en inglés) del condado de Orange. Cuando miembros de la Organización de Servicio Comunitario del Condado de Orange (CSO OC, por sus siglas en inglés) intentaron hacer preguntas, el personal del DA no fue claro sobre el motivo de su presencia y refirieron a los miembros al Departamento de Policía de Newport.

El SAPD alega que se recuperó un arma de fuego, pero el Departamento de Policía de Newport (NPD, por sus siglas en inglés) también bloqueó el acceso público a todo el muelle, haciendo imposible que el público observara la escena. La policía también tiene un historial de hacer alegaciones falsas sobre sospechosos que portan armas de fuego – por ejemplo, en los casos de Steve Salgado, asesinado por el SAPD en enero de 2017 y Brandon López, asesinado por el Departamento de Policía de Anaheim en 2021.

Este es el segundo asesinato cometido por el SAPD en sólo 62 días. Noe Rodríguez fue asesinado el 1 de diciembre de 2024. La policía llegó al lugar después de recibir una llamada sobre un hombre con un rifle caminando en el centro de Santa Ana. Llegó la policía y, en menos de cuatro minutos, comenzó a disparar casi 30 balas contra Rodríguez. El objeto que sostenía resultó ser una réplica. No intentaron desescalar la situación y dieron órdenes sólo en inglés, a pesar de que Rodríguez solo hablaba español.

Miembros de CSO OC acudieron al lugar para investigar ambos tiroteos y hablar con los testigos. Si sabe más sobre lo que sucedido o tiene evidencia, o si conoce a la familia de José Velásquez, comuníquese con CSO OC al 714-367-6350 o en Instagram @cso.oc.

En ambos casos, el SAPD reveló información mínima sobre los tiroteos y ninguna información sobre los oficiales involucrados. CSO OC está construyendo una campaña para exigir transparencia al departamento de policía de Santa Ana, llamada la Campaña 24/48.

David Pulido de CSO OC declaró: “Estamos exigiendo que los nombres de los oficiales involucrados se divulguen dentro de las 24 horas posteriores a un incidente crítico y que el video sin editar se publique dentro de las 48 horas. Las familias merecen algo mejor cuando sus seres queridos son asesinados o lastimados. Merecen saber qué sucedió y quién es responsable”. Si estás interesado en unirte a este esfuerzo para exigir transparencia al departamento de policía, comuníquese con CSO OC.

#NewportBeachCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #CSOOC

Tampa FL – On Tuesday, February 4, over 40 people came out to listen to a panel hosted by Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TAARPR) and led by the families who survived police crimes.

The event was part of a weeklong series of events that honor the life of Andrew Joseph III – a 14-year-old boy who was killed in traffic after he was kidnapped by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies in February 2014 – and the struggle for justice and accountability being fought in his name.

The panelists speaking were Deanna Joseph of Tampa, mother of Andrew Joseph III and board member of the Andrew Joseph Foundation; Kieanna Garrett of Lakeland, who is currently fighting her charges after being stalked for months then brutalized by Lakeland PD; and Jasmine Smith, a member of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) , who flew from Chicago for the panel, and has been fighting to free her family and others who were wrongly incarcerated.

During the panel Joseph said “You don’t want to wait to be in the shoes that I’m in before you get involved. You don’t want it to knock on your door before you say, ‘enough is enough.’ You want to be at the forefront of whatever your passion is. Everybody should be doing something.”

One of the main fights of the Andrew Joseph Foundation is to end qualified immunity, which grants police and the officials surrounding them protection from the rule of law whenever they harm people in our communities.

“They are the criminals. The state attorneys and the judges and the police officers all have qualified immunity. They’re all protected by some type of qualified immunity where if they are to be caught up in corruption, they’re not being held accountable.” said Joseph.

In her time in CAARPR, Joseph played a role in helping pass the legislation which created a democratically elected board that is able to help decide police policy and leadership in the city of Chicago.

The panelists presented a message for greater police accountability and uniting to make that accountability a reality.

#TampaFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #NAARPR #TAARPR

New Orleans, LA – On Sunday, February 9, the family of Glenn Foster Jr hosted a press conference at noon in front of the Hale Boggs Federal Building in downtown New Orleans. As media came to town to cover the Super Bowl, Glenn’s mother, Sabrina Foster, seized the moment to bring light on her son.

Glenn Foster Jr was a professional football player who was found dead in police custody in 2021 after a traffic stop.

The conference began with chants demanding “We want answers! We want justice!” Then, Sabrina Foster told Glenn’s story: “I would like everyone to ask the question: What happened to NFL Saints player Glenn Foster Jr?”

Glenn Foster Jr. was traveling from New Orleans to Atlanta when he was pulled over for allegedly speeding in Pickens County, Alabama. He was then handcuffed, tased and put in jail. Three days later, on December 6, 2021, Foster was found dead in the back of a police car as police were transporting him. Speaking of the police who killed her son, Sabrina Foster said, “They don’t know who Glenn’s momma is. Just because it hasn’t been in the news doesn’t mean that we ain’t gonna come after you!”

Police and a state autopsy said Glenn Jr. died of natural causes due to a heart attack. But the 31-year-old athlete was in excellent health and had no prior history of heart disease according to the family.

“When I saw my son’s body with the wounds around his neck, and I saw the state autopsy say he died of natural causes, [I knew it was] a pack of lies,” said Glenn Foster Sr.

A second independent autopsy revealed evidence of strangulation, torture, and that Foster Jr. was repeatedly tased. “They say justice is blind. Not if you’re Black! The cops abused their authority and they took my son’s life,” exclaimed Foster Sr.

The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit that was approved to move forward at the end of 2024. While they continue with legal proceedings, they ask the public to learn about their son’s case and uplift his story on social media.

The Fosters have also recently started a New Orleans chapter of Black Lives Matter Grassroots to continue the fight for their son and other families victimized by police brutality. For more information, follow @blm_nola on Instagram.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #BLM

Newport Beach, CA – Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers chased and then killed 45-year-old Jose Velasquez in Newport Beach Saturday, February 1, at about 7 a.m.

At least seven police cruisers and one police helicopter pursued a vehicle onto Newport pier, with police pulling up with their squad car doors already open and guns drawn as they slowed to a stop. They fired over a dozen shots before issuing any verbal commands and before many bystanders had time to flee the pier.

Bystanders said Velasquez was driving calmly and didn’t seem to have an intention of hurting anybody. They also described feeling fear as gunshots started and having to shield their children, and feeling traumatized after.

SAPD stated Velasquez was a Menifee, California homicide suspect, in their attempt to justify the reckless shooting. SAPD chased him from Santa Ana all the way to Newport Beach after receiving a call to assist from the Menifee Police Department.

Along with the two police departments, an Orange County district attorney’s office truck was present. When members of Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) tried to ask questions, DA’s people were not clear about their reason was in being there and they referred members to the Newport Police Department.

SAPD claims a firearm was recovered, but Newport Police Department (NPD) also blocked public access to the entire pier, making public view of the scene impossible. Police also have a history of making false claims about suspects having firearms – for example, in the cases of Steve Salgado, killed by SAPD in January 2017 and Brandon Lopez, killed by Anaheim PD in 2021.

This is SAPD’s second killing in only 62 days. Noe Rodriguez was killed on December 1, 2024. Police arrived on the scene after being called about a man with a rifle walking in downtown Santa Ana. Police arrived and in less than four minutes began shooting nearly 30 rounds at Rodriguez. The item he was holding turned out to be a replica. They did not try to de-escalate the situation, and they gave commands only in English, although Rodriguez spoke only Spanish.

Members of CSO OC went to the site to investigate both shootings and talk to witnesses. If you know more about what happened and have evidence, or if you know the family of Jose Velasquez, contact CSO OC at 714-367-6350 or on Instagram @cso.oc.

In both cases, SAPD revealed minimal information about the shootings and no information about the officers involved. CSO OC is building a campaign to demand transparency from Santa Ana's police department, called the 24/48 Campaign.

David Pulido of CSO OC stated, “We are demanding that the names of the officers involved are released within 24 hours of a critical incident and unedited video released within 48 hours. Families deserve better when their loved ones are killed or hurt. They deserve to know what happened and who is responsible.” If you are interested in joining this effort to demand transparency from the police department, contact CSO OC.

#NewportBeachCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #CSOOC #KillerCops

Atlanta, GA – On Saturday, January 18, hundreds of community members gathered to honor the life of Manuel Esteban Paez Teràn, known as Tortuguita, a forest defender killed by the Georgia State Patrol two years ago while protesting the construction of Cop City in Atlanta. Protesters carried turtle-shaped umbrellas with messages of solidarity in honor of Tortuguita’s life.

The rally began at Old Fourth Ward Skatepark with speakers from important local and national struggles, along with community-building activities. Indigenous activists in the struggle against the Dakota Access Pipeline spoke about the importance of opposing projects like Cop City. The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights spoke about the fight against repressive anti-immigrant bills, such as the Laken Riley Act, which recently passed in the Senate. Refaat Alareer Mobile Library was also present, honoring the life and work of the martyred Palestinian activist and professor Dr. Refaat Alareer.

“My message is that we have to keep going,” said Belkis Teràn, mother of Tortuguita. “We have to work on ourselves. That’s why I did the Tortuguita Healing Center, it’s for everybody that wants to do good for the community and for themselves.” Teràn stressed the importance of continuing the fight, remembering Tortuguita’s words “we can defeat the police by being happy.”

Protesters marched down the Atlanta Beltline towards the BlackRock Atlanta office. Tim Franzen, a member of People’s Campaign to Stop Cop City, says in his speech “BlackRock owns part of Lockheed Martin. What do they do? They build bombs and jets. Where do they go? They go to Gaza. They’re invested in every part of the policing process.” BlackRock also plays a big role in displacing working-class Black families in Atlanta and all over the country.

The rally ended back at the skatepark, with activists vowing to keep up the fight against Cop City and asserting their determination to win. “We can win. I believe that. Because when people gather together and fight for our rights, we will win. That’s what I believe.” stated Ms. Jodah Barnette, with the People’s Campaign to Stop Cop City. “We have to keep on fighting and keep on going. And that’s why I'm out here today when I could be at home resting.”

#AtlantaGA #GA #InJusticeSystem #CopCity #Tortuguita #KillerCops

Several of these COs have histories abusing prisoners within New York jails and prisons. CO Anthony Farina and Sergeant Glenn Trombly were both involved in the assault of William Alvarez in 2020. Trombly was also involved in beating Equarn White, which put White in a wheelchair. CO Nicholas Anzalone was involved in an attack on Adam Bauer, which left him with a large gash on his head after the CO hit him with a clipboard. The murder of Robert Brooks is not an isolated act but the latest in a history of violence and abuse by these guards

The killing of Robert Brooks is the latest in a series of abuses in jails across the country. In August 2024, a dozen Black men set themselves on fires to escape torturous conditions at Virginia’s Red Onion supermax prison. Conditions included putting prisoners in solitary confinement for as long as 14 years and using attack dogs on the prisoners who spoke out against abuses. In Atlanta, Georgia, the Fulton County Jail has seen nearly 30 deaths since 2023. Many were due to overcrowding and medical neglect, which ranged from people not being given their seizure medication to others being overdosed by the onsite doctors.

#AtlantaGA #GA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops

Community Service Organization, Orange County (CSO OC) has begun investigating the shooting, door knocking in the area to find out more information. The organization hopes to find the victim’s family to support them in their struggle for justice.

This police killing is similar to the recent killing of Noe Rodriguez Martinez, also in his 30s, by Santa Ana Police Department on December 1 near Broadway and 1st Street. The scene of his murder is still scarred with nearly 30 bullet holes where police sprayed him with gunfire for allegedly holding a non-lethal airsoft gun. Similarly, the names of the officers and more details about the killing have not been released.

These killings and the lack of information released to the public regarding them highlight Orange County’s lack of police accountability and transparency. While both Santa Ana and Anaheim have police oversight bodies, they currently lack the power to hold police accountable when they kill. CSO OC is in the process of building a campaign in Santa Ana to demand transparency and accountability, including releasing officer names after police killings.

If you have any information regarding either shooting or you are interested in being involved in the campaign, you can call CSO OC’s hotline at 714-367-6350 or contact them via social media @cso.oc on Instagram and Orange County CSO on Facebook.

#AnaheimCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #CSOOC

Colorado Springs, CO – On December 13, at approximately 9:40 p.m., an unidentified man called 911 stating he was suicidal and had a firearm. By the time El Paso County sheriffs responded, an hour later, they could not find the man, as he had made his way to the parking lot of a local business. Colorado Springs Police claim the man refused to comply with demands to drop his weapon, and the police eventually shot and killed him.

There was no point in the night where the man was able to get the help he clearly desperately needed. It is unclear at this moment what factors drove the man to seek help by calling the police, but their late arrival and the violent conclusion to the situation is indicative of a police force ill-equipped and unable to de-escalate during mental health crises. Without actual, formalized oversight from the community, situations like this will continue to happen.

As of now, the name of the man has not been released, and no body cam footage has been made available. Colorado is currently on track to see its deadliest year since 2020 as far as police killings.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops

Brooklyn, NY – On Saturday, September 7, the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NYAARPR) and a dozen community members gathered for an honest discussion of the role of the NYPD on the New York City subway system.

The event, held at the Macon branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, marked the launch of NYAARPR’s Cops off the Subway campaign.

Panelists and participants discussed the racist history of policing on public transit, the problem with letting cops respond to mental health crises, and the underfunding of community resources due to inflated NYPD overtime.

Speakers debunked Eric Adams’ and Kathy Hochul’s claims about transit crime being on the rise and showed that the majority of people arrested in the transit system are Black, and most arrests are for non-violent offenses like turnstile jumping or sleeping.

New York Alliance speakers were joined by Sheina, a family member of Eudes Pierre, who was shot and killed by the NYPD in Brooklyn, New York on December 20, 2021, while in a mental health crisis. Sheina emphasized the fact that police officers should not be involved in responding to mental health crises and spoke about the importance of mental health care that prioritizes the dignity, autonomy, and safety of the person in crisis.

More cops on the trains will not make us safe and will only increase the harassment and abuse of Black residents and unhoused New Yorkers.

The New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the people of New York City are fighting back against the racist, anti-poor agenda pushed by the NYPD and their crones, Cop Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul. For more information on NYAARPR, visit nyaarpr.org or @nyaarpr on social media.

#BrooklynNY #NY #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #NAARPR #NYAARPR

Fullerton, CA – On Friday, September 6, over 30 family members, community members and activists joined a vigil to demand justice for Alejandro Campos Rios. The vigil was held outside of a McDonald’s restaurant where Rios was murdered by Fullerton Police Department on March 6 while experiencing a mental health crisis.

Connor Atwood with Dare to Struggle kicked off the vigil by stating, “For six months the killer cops have gotten away with it. For six months, they have not released the names of the officers that pulled the triggers. For six months they have not been fired from FPD. And for six months, while we should have been getting justice ,these killer cops have continued to walk the streets. We’re here to say no, we’re here to demand justice for Alejandro!”

Chants of “Indict, convict, send these killer cops to jail! The whole damn system is guilty as hell!” and “FPD you can’t hide, we charge you with homicide!” began on a busy street where traffic passing by honked in support.

Yvonne De La Torre, Campos’ partner, read a letter from his granddaughter Jazmyne, who just had her tenth birthday. She wrote: “I miss you so much. My wish was to bring you back, that’s how much I love you and miss you. I’m really sad you are not here with me. I wish I had a chance to say goodbye.”

De La Torre then spoke about Rios. “He didn’t deserve what he got. He still had a lot of life; he had just turned 50 in January, but Fullerton PD chose to take his life instead of helping him. They could’ve talked him down, but they chose to shoot and kill him right here in front of the McDonald’s. All because he had a mental illness crisis at that moment. We’re here to seek justice. Something needs to be done about all these killings that are happening by police departments from all counties. We need to unite to make a change because this can’t happen anymore!”

Melissa Miramontes, who grew up with another victim of police terror, Hugo Cachua, then spoke to demand justice for him, stating, “He was murdered by an off-duty medical leave police officer from LAPD who was not in uniform. He was not in a police vehicle, but yet this pig decided to kill our brother for a fender bender.”

Miramontes urged the community to take action before these killings continue, stating, “This can happen to you! Never did we think this would happen to us! It can happen to your family! Fuck the crooked ass cops and fuck whoever stands with them! Justice for our families! Justice for the people who are gonna lose their fucking lives in the future! May the cops pay! Don’t let it be your family!” She asked for the community to sign their petition.

David Pulido with CSO Orange County then spoke and described the recent killings by FPD. Pulido stated, “The Fullerton Police Department has killed at least five people since 2020, three of them this year. Lorenzo Roger Hills III was killed July 15, Scott William Thompson March 25, and Alejandro Campos Rios that very same month on March 6.” He stated that in order to get justice for those killed, “We need community control of the police. We must claw back power and put it into the hands of the people. We do want justice and we have to take that power back however we can. We want to demand justice for Alejandro Campos Rios, that the names of the officers who killed him be revealed, and that they be convicted and jailed!”

#FullertonCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #CSOOC #Feature

Dallas, TX – Around 50 people gathered early in the evening of Sunday, August 25, in front of the headquarters of the Dallas Police Department to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the murder of two Black children killed at the hands of Dallas police.

The boys were brothers, George Johnson, aged 14, and Johnny Johnson, aged 13. The vigil was attended by three siblings of the Johnson brothers and organized by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Stop Cop City Dallas Coalition, and the DFW Anti-War Committee. Community members from all around the Dallas-Fort Worth area were present.

The siblings of the Johnson brothers shared heartfelt thoughts and recollections. Other speakers included Justin Bent from the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Britney English from Stop Cop City Dallas, and local activist Olinka Green.

Britney English remarked, “When society’s perception of you doesn’t line up with who you are as an individual, your identity is defined by the racism, bias and hate of others. George and Johnny were children. The police claim they saw men. George and Johnny had pipes to play music with. The police claim they saw shotguns. George and Johnny were junior high students, and the police saw criminals. You can’t train that sort of bias and hate out of someone.”

The vigil concluded with a moment of silence for George and Johnny Johnson at the exact time they were murdered: 8:40 p.m. on August 25, 1974.

The story of the Johnson brothers had been largely forgotten in Dallas until it was recently brought back to public attention by the work of journalist Sam Judy. Regretfully, the boys' graves still bear no headstone as of the time of writing, but the vigil also helped raise money to address that.

#DallasTX #TX #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #NAARPR #DAWC

Los Angeles, CA – A dozen local activists disrupted a National Night Out event held at Boyle Heights’ Hollenbeck Police Station on Tuesday, August 6. The determined Chicano activists are part of Centro CSO, a local grassroots organization that mobilized to disrupt LAPD’S propaganda event. Centro CSO demanded accountability and to “jail killer cops.”

Organizers brought banners, chanted and marched the streets in protest of the “peace march”

organized by the Los Angeles Police Department. The protesters were declaring that there can be “No peace without justice!” The police program was disrupted, the protesters did not let the captain from LAPD Hollenbeck station give his speech, as they yelled out the names of Chicanos murdered by officers from Hollenbeck station.

The yearly National Night Out propaganda event is organized by police departments all across the United States in an attempt to wash the blood off their hands, but Centro CSO was there to make sure that the police department knew that their crimes will not be forgiven, and that accountability is needed!

Protesters waited at the end of the march with a banner reading “LAPD, stop killing brown and Black people!” and “Jail killer cops!” Activists were vocal in uplifting the names of Christian Escobedo, Jesse Romero, Jose Mendez and Omar Gonzalez, who were all murdered by LAPD officers that work out of the Hollenbeck Police Station.

They also called out officers of Hollenbeck Police Station who have murdered Chicanos, such as Eden Medina, who murdered both Omar Gonzalez and Jesse Romero within the span of 12 days around this time of year in 2016.

Although most of the Night Out attendees were supportive of the protest and saw the contradiction of LAPD holding a “peace march” while they continue to murder Chicanos – some of the pro-police people in the audience became violent and aggressive. The protesters were able to keep each other safe.

“There can be no peace without justice. The audacity for LAPD Hollenbeck Station to hold a ‘peace march’ while they continue to murder and harass Chicanos without accountability is something we can’t have,” said Gabriel Quiroz Jr, an organizer with Centro CSO and one of the chairs of the Police Accountability Campaign within Centro CSO. “We have to stand up and fight back.”

To join Centro CSO in the fight against police brutality and oppression, reach out to them at centrocso@gmail.com or follow them on social media to stay updated: “Centro CSO” on all platforms.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #CentroCSO #Chicano

Tallahassee, FL – On August 7, a dozen community members gathered at the Smokey Hollow Historic District for a vigil for Sonya Massey and other victims of police brutality. The vigil was hosted by the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC).

Sonya Massey was only 36 when she was murdered by Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson on July 6. Massey called 911 to report a possible “prowler” near her home in Springfield, Illinois. Grayson’s body cam footage, released two weeks ago, shows Sonya Massey being shot in the head by Officer Grayson while holding a pot of hot water in her hands – her last words were “I’m sorry.”

Various local organizations were present at the vigil. Tally Dissenters Danyal Colomathi stated, “Hearing about Sonya Massey’s Murder was not easy to digest or watch. Seeing another sister be taken mercilessly without a second thought is another reminder that this country will not protect us unless there is money involved. There’s no one to call on but our own.”

Serenity Williams of the Leon County Democrats called out local public officials, stating “We all know what it is like when we need help when we call on someone we can trust when we call on someone who’s supposed to be there to protect us and they don’t. It really boils my blood that even after the marching, demanding, and lobbying, those in office right down the street are still not listening to us.” She added, “They’re still not putting action behind their Black Lives Matter fakeness of 2020.”

Tavyan Dorsey of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization echoed this sentiment, stating. “If you understand Kamala Harris’s history as attorney general in the state of California, where she kept Black men in prison past their release dates for cheap labor, how are we supposed to believe that she’s going to be a progressive candidate? There’s nothing to be excited for. We’ll be going to Chicago to march on the Democratic National Convention to demand an end to these police crimes, demand an end to the genocide in Palestine, and to demand that working people finally get treated with dignity in this country.”

The Tallahassee Community Action Committee highlighted how the story of Sonya Massey connects to their city's struggles. Alongside Sonya Massey, the community remembered its victims lost to police brutality since 2020, including. Mychael Johnson, Tony McDade, Raheem Reeder and Wilbon Woodard.

Delilah Pierre, president of TCAC emphasized, “During the 2020 George Floyd movement, I saw Tony McDade be murdered by the Tallahassee Police Department after his family begged for support from TPD; we saw TPD murder Wilbon Woodard and Michael Johnson in the same week; we saw TPD murder Raheem Reeder.”

Pierre continued, “We’re going to remember these people. We won’t forget Sonya Massey and how she represents hundreds of thousands of other Black people who have been criminalized, neglected and killed.”

The vigil ended with attendees saying Sonya Massey’s name and a moment of silence. TCAC will be at the next city commission meeting on August 21 to demand accountability for corrupt cops in TPD and an end to the $125 million police station project currently underway.

#TallahasseeFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #TCAC #Feature