Anaheim, CA – El 22 de diciembre, alrededor de las 4 de la mañana, cerca de 40 trabajadores de Amazon, algunos de los cuales también son miembros de la Hermandad Internacional de Camioneros (Teamsters) del Local 396, formaron una línea de piquetes frente a un almacén de Amazon en Anaheim. Llevaban carteles de protesta que decían “Huelga por prácticas laborales injustas de Amazon” y marcharon frente a la entrada del almacén. Los gerentes vigilaron de cerca la línea de piquetes, desalentando a los conductores que salían de hablar con los piqueteros

Esta línea de piquetes es parte de la huelga más grande contra Amazon en la historia de los Estados Unidos y está ocurriendo en un momento crucial del período de mayor actividad comercial del año.

Rubie Mosqueda, conductora de reparto de Amazon de la Ciudad de Industry, explicó: “ Hay una huelga nacional en marcha porque varios almacenes han alcanzado la mayoría para sindicarse y Amazon sigue negándose a sentarse a la mesa. Queremos discutir mejores salarios, seguridad laboral y la negociación del contrato. ¡Estamos en huelga para mostrarle a Amazon que estamos unidos como sindicato!”.

El sindicato Amazon Labor Union, afiliado a los Teamsters, quiere expandirse y llevarlo a nuevos almacenes como el de Amazon en Anaheim. Mientras los piqueteros hablaban con los conductores sobre las condiciones de trabajo y la lucha por un contrato, Mosqueda dijo: “Hemos extendido la línea de piquetes para venir a apoyar a otros locales. Queremos ver cómo se sienten los conductores acerca de traer el sindicato aquí. Primero plantamos las semillas, luego hacemos el piquete, conseguimos contactos, ¡y después nos comunicamos y organizamos!”

Los cánticos llenaron la calle mientras los piqueteros gritaban: “¿Qué queremos? ¡Un contrato! ¿Cuándo lo queremos? ¡Ahora!”. Los vehículos que pasaban tocaban el claxon en apoyo de la huelga.

La gerencia de Amazon llamó al Departamento de Policía de Anaheim, y dos patrullas se detuvieron, amenazando con multar a la gente por caminar mientras el semáforo estaba en rojo. Los piqueteros respondieron a la gerencia con el canto: “¡Romper sindicatos es repugnante!”

Los piqueteros planearon regresar a la Ciudad de Industry el 23 de diciembre y mantener la huelga con fuerza.

#AnaheimCA #CA #Labor #Teamsters #ALU #Amazon #Strike #Huelga

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

Anaheim, CA – On December 22, at around 4 a.m., nearly 40 Amazon workers, some of whom are also members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from Local 396, picketed in front of an Amazon warehouse in Anaheim. They carried signs stating, “Amazon unfair labor practices strike” and marched in front of the warehouse entrance. Managers watched the picket line closely, discouraging outgoing drivers from speaking to picketers.

This picket line is part of the largest Amazon strike in U.S. history and is happening at the crux of the busiest shopping time of the year.

Rubie Mosqueda, Amazon delivery driver from the City of Industry, explained, “There is a nationwide strike happening because a number of warehouses have reached a majority to unionize, and Amazon is still refusing to come to the table. We want to discuss better pay, job security and contract negotiation. We are striking to show Amazon that we are standing together as a union!”

The Teamster-affiliated Amazon Labor Union wants to expand and bring it to new warehouses like the Anaheim Amazon warehouse. As picketers talked to drivers about working conditions and the fight for a contract, Mosqueda said, “We’ve extended the picket line to come support other locals. We want to see how drivers are feeling about bringing the union here. First, we plant the seeds, then picket, get contacts, then we reach out and organize!”

Chants filled the street as picketers shouted, “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!” Passing cars honked in support of the strike.

Amazon management called the Anaheim Police Department, and two patrol cars pulled over, threatening to ticket people for walking while the street light is red. Picketers chanted back at management, “Union busting is disgusting!”

Picketers planned to return to the City of Industry on December 23 and keep the strike going strong.

#AnaheimCA #CA #Labor #Teamsters #Amazon #Strike

Anaheim, CA – On June 22, over 50 community members and activists gathered at Twila Reid Park for a vigil honoring Palestinian martyrs who have been killed during the ongoing genocide. The vigil was organized by the Palestinian American Women’s Association.

The vigil was one of Orange County’s many actions highlighting Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza that has killed at least 40,000 people. The vigil started with an all-Palestinian children’s choir that sang Mawtini, the Iraq national anthem. This was followed up with the chants, “We want justice, you say how? End the siege on Gaza now!” and “Genocide Joe, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?”

A member of PAWA SoCal spoke to the displacement and suffering of Palestinians at the hands of Israel, “For decades Palestinian families have faced unimaginable hardships, forced from their homes time and again now at an exponentially higher scale. Death and starvation loom at every corner in Gaza. Israel has pushed 80% of Gaza’s inhabitants into the cruel limbo of displacement, forcing them to become refugees again.”

The vigil continued with speakers demanding an end to U.S. aid to Israel. “We must continue to pressure the U.S. government who provides the bombs, munitions, intelligence and precision technologies that subjugate our people and attempt to quell the resistance. Elected officials continue signing off on billions of dollars in weapons reaching the Zionist entity.” said a speaker from Students for Justice in Palestine at UC Irvine.

A Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) member drew the connection between the Israeli Defense Forces and U.S. police department, stating, “We are aware that the anti-defamation league or ADL has trained many law enforcement agencies within southern California including the Los Angeles Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Department, and Santa Ana Police Department. At CSO OC we are currently working on police accountability and community control of the police in Santa Ana.”

The vigil ended with a closing performance by the Mawtini choir and writing notes on a candlelit altar commemorating the lives of brave Palestinian martyrs. The vigil included members of Students for Justice in Palestine, Black Lives Matter, CSO OC, SAWA SoCal, Memorial for Freedom and Democracy in Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), Al-Awada, Palestine Foundation, Arab American Civil Council, and others.

#AnaheimCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #PAWA #CSO #SJP #USPCN

Anaheim, CA – “You join the heroes who stood up and said, ‘War? Not in our name! Death? Not in our name! Money toward genocide? Not in our name!’” declared Kareem Youssef, member of the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), to a crowd of over 20 protesters in front of a Super King Market on March 3.

The action was part of the larger “Boycott Sadaf” campaign, whose goal is to remove Sadaf Food products from grocery stores. Sadaf Foods is a Zionist company that sources its products in occupied Palestine and tries to normalize the state of Israel.

Activists took the parking lot chanting, “Super King, hear our voice! Zionist food is not a choice!” and “Not another nickel, not another dime! No more money for Israel’s crimes!”

They were confronted by security guards who tried to intimidate them into moving out of the parking lot, but Youssef and others asserted their right to protest Super King market for shelving Sadaf Food products. As seven police SUVs and one motorcycle officer poured into the lot, another organizer from USPCN said he had spoken with the manager of Super King before staging this action, and the manager sent him to customer service. “How ridiculous! They want us to go through a bureaucracy when we tell them to stop funding genocide, when we tell them that you’re profiting off of the stolen food while our people are starving in Gaza, while children are starving! And instead, they call the cops on us. Shame on Super King! Shame on Sadaf! Boycott Sadaf!”

Diana Terreros, member of Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) and Freedom Road Socialist Organization, stated that “CSO stands in unequivocal solidarity with the Palestinian resistance against the occupation of Israel, who is committing a genocide and has been dispossessing Palestinians for 75 years.” She also spoke on the recent victory of the Boycott Sadaf campaign in Garden Grove, where an action forced Harvest Fresh market to deshelve its Sadaf products just 30 minutes into the rally. Terreros stated, “We will keep fighting against these Zionist corporations! Our struggles as Chicanos and Palestinians may be different, but we are united against the common enemy of U.S. imperialism, and together we can win.”

Even as the police tried to violate protesters’ First Amendment rights, activists urged customers to boycott Super King until the manager made a contractual agreement to deshelve its Sadaf Food products. Some customers even joined the ranks of activists, taking up signs and shouting back at police and security. The police were forced to stand and watch.

Palestinian flags waved in the lot as Youssef closed the boycott action by warning, “We will be checking on different stores seeking Sadaf across Southern California until every single one of these Southern California stores removes Sadaf Foods from their shelves! Because this is what we can do to make an impact and to address Zionism ourselves, and show them that people power, just us, is enough to cost Sadaf millions!”

The boycott was organized by USPCN, and it included activists from Free Democratic Movement for Palestine, Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, the Palestinian American Women’s Association, Community Service Organization Orange County, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

#AnaheimCA #International #AntiWarMovement #MiddleEast #Palestine #BDS #USPCN #AlAwda #PAWA #CSOOC #FRSO

Anaheim, CA – Chants of “Anaheim PD has blood on their hands!” filled the streets of Anaheim on Wednesday, December 6, as over 30 family members and community members rallied in front of the Anaheim Police Department. They spoke on the tragic murder of Abigail Lopez by Anaheim PD.

Rain Mendoza, the rally emcee and member of Orange County CSO, recounted the event, stating, “On October 29, Anaheim PD gunned down Abigail Lopez and murdered her in cold blood. She was 20 years old. These cops kill us with impunity, and we get no justice. They are never held accountable for their crimes against the people!”

The officers shot Abigail Lopez for allegedly holding a BB gun. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she died from the shooting. Both the California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Anaheim PD have announced that they are investigating the shooting. The names of the responsible officers and the body cam footage has not been released.

The rally, organized by Orange County CSO and Abigail Lopez’s family, continued with powerful words from Abigail’s mother, Mary Carmen Lopez, as she looked up at a police drone that flew overhead for the duration of the rally. “It doesn’t seem fair to me that the days pass and she’s not here with me and I’m asking for justice! The cops were wrong for shooting a 20-year-old girl. Justice please!”

The killing of Abigail Lopez happened only a couple weeks after Anaheim PD killed 29-year-old Luis Muñoz on October 3 at a gas station. Anaheim PD has taken many lives over the years, including that of Brandon Lopez in 2021, Fermin Vincent Valenzuela in 2016, and Manuel Diaz and Joel Acevedo who were killed back to back by Anaheim PD in July 2012.

Diana Terreros, a founding member of Orange County CSO, stated, “This is a tragedy that no family should have to endure, however it is a very common occurrence. Anaheim PD regularly kills people, and this happens all over the country but particularly to Chicanos, African Americans and other oppressed nationalities. The police take up so much of the city budget to supposedly protect and serve but all they really provide to our communities is terror and death. This has to stop, and we need to take power from them and put it in the people’s hands.”

Protesters then moved from the police station to a busy intersection where cars driving by honked in support of strong chants of “Justice for Abigail Lopez!” and the family’s demand to jail the killer cops who are responsible. Mary Carmen Lopez plans to continue protesting and fighting for justice for her daughter in the future.

#AnaheimCA #InjusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #OrangeCountyCSO

Anaheim, CA – On Sunday, November 26, close to 200 people gathered at a vigil organized by the Palestinian American Women’s Association and co-sponsored by over 15 organizations to mourn the 20,000 Palestinians who have been martyred since October 7. In some cases, entire bloodlines have been wiped out and more than a million have been displaced from their homes.

Candles were lit and flowers were laid out to honor the martyrs whose names were displayed on a banner. Many spoke about the personal impact the occupation of Palestine and genocide being conducted by Israel has had on their families. One speaker was present during the Nakba of 1948.

Shaheen Nassar, a community organizer with the Council on American-Islamic Relations stated, “Unfortunately, I’ve lost family in almost every major bombing campaign of the Gaza strip, including more recently my eight-year-old relative who was killed in one of the bombing campaigns. And inshallah, we will vindicate all our martyrs with the dismantlement of the apartheid system.”

The role of the United States in the genocide of Palestinians was also highlighted throughout the vigil.

Ayah Shiadah, program manager at the Arab American Civic Council, declared that “the U.S.-made weapons of destruction used in this conflict must not continue to bring death and despair to the people of Gaza and Palestine. We must hold accountable those who have aided in this endless occupation and rampant genocide.”

A speaker from the Palestinian Youth Movement spoke about the millions that capitalists and politicians make by spilling Palestinian blood and asserted “we will continue to disrupt the flow of profit for those who get richer with every single weapon or technology they send to Israel. For every business deal they make with Israel.”

In the past week, protests and die-ins have taken place at malls and defense companies to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel, including a protest that shut down a Lockheed Martin subsidiary in Minnesota and a protest held in Los Angeles at a Raytheon facility.

Palestinian youth ranging from eight to 12 years old also spoke at the vigil, reading poems and leading chants of “Free, free, free Palestine!” and “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes!”

Dr. Melina Abdullah, director of Black Lives Matter Grassroots and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, spoke about the long history of solidarity between Palestinians and Africans and African Americans, stating, “I am coming to you standing on the shoulders of my African ancestors who since 1948 have stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people. See, Black people have always understood that our struggle here, our struggle worldwide mirrors in so many ways the struggle of Palestinian people.”

David Pulido, co-founder of Community Service Organization Orange County, spoke about what the Palestinian resistance means for Chicanos and other oppressed nationalities. “For the people, Operation Al-Aqsa Flood means that it is right to struggle against your oppressor. It means that the only path to liberation is to recognize your enemy and struggle against him.”

Pulido ended his speech with a statement of solidarity: “The resistance of the Palestinian people inspires me and we in CSO OC stand in unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian liberation movement. While the particulars of our struggles as Chicanos and Palestinians are different, our main enemy is the same: U.S. imperialism.”

The mass demonstrations that have taken place across the country were highlighted throughout the vigil as a sign and a reason that the tide is turning against Israel. Kareem Youssef of the US Palestinian Community Network encouraged attendees to keep up the fight. “We must continue to organize and fight against Israel, the United States, and all who support genocide. We are on the right side of history. We are the ones teaching civility. We have defeated Israel these past 50 days and we must do whatever it takes again and again and again until one day Zionism is but a thing of the past and Palestinians have finally won their liberation from the river to the sea.”

#AnaheimCA #FreePalestine

Celine Qussiny from Palestinian Youth Movement explained that Palestinians have a right to resist and respond to the ongoing Zionist attacks and occupation. “This escalation is a direct response to 75 years of ongoing Nakba and ethnic cleansing. The Zionist entity bears full responsibility for this escalation.” She ended her speech with “the struggle for Palestinian liberation continues and will continue until the complete liberation and return of our people!”

President Joe Biden has called the operation a terrorist assault and has stated that the U.S. is “ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel.”

In response to these accusations of terrorism, John Nonato from Anakbayan University of California, Irvine and Bayan Southern California, stated: “We understand that it’s the U.S. imperialists that are the number one terrorists. The U.S. imperialists funding the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces], the occupation forces that are also training the armed forces in the Philippines to suppress our people. We have a right to resist – it is not terrorism.”

#AnaheimCA #Palestine #PalestinianYouthMovement #Anakbayan #Bayan

Asimismo, denunciaron el reciente asesinato de Manuel Díaz. Díaz recibió un disparo en la espalda y parte posterior de la cabeza el 21 de julio frente a su familia, esto en la calle North Anna, una comunidad de clase trabajadora y chicana. El 24 de julio, la familia de Manuel Díaz presentó una demanda en la corte federal por violación de derechos civiles exigiendo justicia y $50 millones de dólares. Los manifestantes trataron de marchar cerca de Disneyland, pero fueron bloqueados por la policía. Muchos conductores que pasaron por la protesta gritaron saludos para mostrar su apoyo. Muchos de los grupos chicanos se unieron a la manifestación, incluyendo los Chicanos Unidos de Anaheim, los Brown Berets, el Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida y la Coalición de Inmigración del Sur de California, para nombrar unos pocos. El movimiento Ocupar, junto con socialistas y grupos anarquistas también participaron. Carlos Montes y otros veteranos activistas chicanos también participaron. Montes habló con la familia Cruz para expresar su apoyo y solidaridad. El Condado Orange tiene una larga historia de ataques y prácticas racistas en contra de la creciente comunidad chicana. Los grandes negocios de la ciudad tienen planes para expandir el complejo de atracciones como Disneyland y unos piensan que quieren desalojar a la gran comunidad chicana.

#AnaheimCA #PoliceBrutality #AntiRacism #politicalRepression

Anaheim, CA – Hundreds marched on the Anaheim Police Headquarters, July 29, to protest police killings of young Chicano men. The protesters confronted the police with chants, shouts and banners denouncing these brutal and racist killings. The Anaheim Police Department (APD) has carried out a rash of killings this year, far more than previous years. Two people have been killed in the past week.

The protesters were met with a heavy, militarized police presence including horses, helicopters, armored cars and cops on rooftops with shot guns ready.

The family of Cesar Ray Cruz, killed by the APD in 2009, held up a banner demanding justice and a poster with the pictures of nine other men killed by APD. They also denounced the recent killing of Manuel Diaz. Diaz who was shot in the back and back of head on July 21 in front of the families of North Anna Street, a working class Chicano community. On July 24, the family of Manuel Diaz filled a civil rights violation lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court demanding justice and $50 million.

The demonstrators attempted to march on nearby Disneyland, but were blocked by the police. Many drivers going by the protest honked and waved to show support.

Many Chicano groups joined the demonstration, including Chicanos Unidos de Anaheim, Brown Berets, Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida and the Southern California Immigration Coalition, to name a few. The Occupy movement, along with socialist and anarchist groups also participated.

Carlos Montes and other veteran Chicano activists participated and spoke with the Cruz family to express their support and solidarity.

Orange County has a long history of racist attacks and practices against the growing Chicano community. The city developers have plans to expand the amusement park resort and some feel that they want to dislocate the large Chicano community.

#AnaheimCA #ChicanoLatino #Racism #CarlosMontes #policeKilling #ChicanoLiberation

Anaheim, CA – Manuel Diaz, a 25-year old Chicano, was shot in the back and in the head by Anaheim police in the afternoon of July 21. The police killing took place in a Chicano working-class community, where most people live in apartments and where families know, get along with and hear each other. Diaz was murdered while standing in his front lawn. The police have given no reason or probable cause for attempting to stop him.

The close-knit community immediately began to protest and denounce this brutal racist killing. During the protest, police fired rubber bullets, hitting many people. The cops let loose a police dog that attacked a child and mother and mauled a young man. Five people were arrested and half a dozen injured.

Then on July 22, police killed another man, Joel Acevedo.

Anaheim Police Chief John Welter claimed he’s “very concerned” about the killings. The Orange County district attorney's office, which investigates police shootings, is looking into these cases.

On July 23, there were several press conferences to denounce the Diaz killing. People united for a protest in the community on North Anna Drive. Their shouts and chants demanded justice for Manuel and jail for the killer cop.

Many in the community are visibly traumatized but they have united to demand justice and to stop future police brutality. This Chicano community is near the Disneyland and many feel the city, along with developers, want to suppress and keep the Chicano community down. The corporations want to promote the area as a major tourist attraction and resort.

The community called for another rally at the Anaheim City Hall on July 24, where they also plan to speak out during the weekly city council meeting.

Chicanos have faced blatant racism, discrimination, police brutality and police killing in the Southwest since the Mexican American war. At that time the U.S. militarily occupied the Southwest – the area that many Chicanos now refer to as Aztlan, the Chicano Nation.

Veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes visited with the community of North Anna Street on July 23 to give them support, show solidarity and to link the struggle against police killing to the fight for Chicano self-determination.

#AnaheimCalifornia #AnaheimCA #PoliceBrutality #ManuelDiaz #JoelAcevedo