Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

For the 15th year marking International Women's Day in Southern California, on March 8th a warm and sunny Saturday, a mixed race and enthusiastic crowd of approximately 450 women, men, quite a lot of young people, and lots of children gathered for a free concert and speakout at the MacArthur Park Band Shell in Los Angeles.

This year: IWD events internationally marked Haiti's revolutionary legacy, and the continuing courage and resilience of its people, starting with women. From Berkeley, Boston, Claremont, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Springfield (USA), Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor (Canada), Guyana and elsewhere, to Dublin and London, people have gathered in solidarity with the Haitian people. Actions in Haiti and across the world marked the 10th anniversary of the coup (29 February 2004) which overthrew the government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide -- former liberation theology priest and Haiti's first democratically elected and much loved and trusted President. Also on this the first anniversary of the death of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, we were remembering this extraordinary leader of the Bolivarian Revolution which changed Latin America and the world.

Full Story: Rock, Rap & Speakout vs Poverty, Prisons & War By Ruth Todasco of Global Women's Strike/LA

Saturday's demonstration drew about 200 people to demand justice for Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic homeless man who was beaten to death by two police officers. Out of 200 protesters, there were 10 arrested. Two for vandalism, including a blond woman who allegedly attacked a CBS camerawoman. The 7 remaining people were arrested for refusing to disperse the scene. Officials claimed they did everything possible to accommodate the protesters, but eventually, the manifestation turned violent heading into Saturday evening.

A CBS reporter, along with a camerawoman, arrived at the scene. Protesters who were affected by the death of Thomas, were offended because the CBS reporter had taken pictures of the Anarchy symbol spray painted along the walls of the Fullerton Police office. People felt that mainstream news was not contributing into reporting the facts. There had been a few protesters who yelled: "The media is lie! Tell the fucking truth!"

(Pictured above: protesters at the lamppost where Thomas was killed. Photo: Pablo A. Unzueta.)

Full story and photos: The Kelly Thomas Protest In Fullerton by Pablo A. Unzueta

Also: CBS reporter attacked protester from Anti-Media

The world was right for a brief moment in Venice as we marched for the civil rights of homeless people in conjunction with the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. The cops followed and took pictures but the parade, led by Superbroke, danced down the Venice Boardwalk and on to the street to the Venice Windward Circle. An awesome feeling of solidarity as we stopped traffic on the street together for justice.

Story and pix: Venice Hosts A Day of Action For Rights of Homeless by Peggy Lee Kennedy

The California Coastal Commission denied Overnight Parking Districts (OPDs) two years in a row and what has changed since are all the new Coastal Commissioners and the real reason behind the Venice OPDs has been virtually eliminated. We hope the new Commissioners will study the OPD denials from both June 2009 and again in June 2010 and maybe even listen to our story to see why so many of us have fought all this time to keep Venice Beach Free and keep our Coastal Zone open to All.

. . . The main reason for OPDs is to remove homeless people living in vehicles from Venice and to help make Venice a more exclusive community. The OPD law is a Los Angeles Municipal Code (an ordinance) brought to life by Councilman Bill Rosendahl after he was first elected and seated in 2005. The intent of this parking permit system is and has always been to make it illegal for homeless people (or other alternative people) to park a vehicle between 2-6am in Venice, because the rules make it so they cannot get a permit.

. . . Even though the Coastal Commission Staff and Attorneys along with the City of LA and Mark Ryavec all reached a tentative settlement agreement to put in the Venice OPDs prior to the June 2010 Coastal Commission meeting, the Commission denied the OPDs for the second year in a row.

Full story: VENICE OPDs ARE BACK! BUT WHY? by Peggy Lee Kennedy

Los Angeles, CA- Occupy Fights Foreclosures activists and homeowners gathered in front of Bank of America branch on North Vermont Street at 12:00pm on Wendesday, February 20. The activists and homeowners held their signs and marched in a circle chanting "B.O.A how many homes did you steal today…. Bank of America, Bad for America." The demonstration lasted for about two hours.

Josephina Perez, a recent victim of fraudulent foreclosure, came to participate with her 3-year-old grandson, Jesus and her husband, Jose Perez. Mrs. Perez said that she was trying to modify her loan with Bank of America, but Bank of America repeatedly claimed that they never received her paperwork. Eventually, BOA foreclosed on her house, and Mrs. Perez and her family, including two small children, Jesus, 3 and Nalanie, 5 were forced to live on the streets.

Sherry Hernandez, another victim of a bank's fraudulent practices (in her case the bank is Countriwide), also came to participate. She is still fighting to keep her home.

Full story and pictures: Occupy Fights Foreclosures Protests in front of Bank of America on Wednesday, February 20 by Natasha Petrosova