MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT(S): Leonardo Vilchis, (213) 631-8574 Jang Woo Nam , (213) 392-0700
In Commemoration of International Human Rights Day, Community Groups to Highlight Los Angeles Housing Crisis and Demand Attention to Sweeping Human Rights Violations
WHEN: December 10, 2009 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Press conference at 12:00 PM
WHERE: Los Angeles City Hall Northeast Corner of 1st & Main Streets
WHAT: Community-based organizations reflecting a multi-cultural Los Angeles will gather at LA City Hall to underscore the rampant human rights violations that exist in L.A due to a dismal and scarce housing stock. In recognition of International Human Rights Day hundreds of residents will gather under L.A. ’s Sister Cities signs to deliver a message to Los Angeles officials, “We demand that you recognize and address our human right to adequate housing.” The gathering will include a press conference and testimonies from L.A. residents struggling with housing issues; a scorecard to grade LA officials, a funeral procession that winds around City Hall; and a mock graveyard to be placed on the city hall lawn.
WHY: Following the United Nations first official mission in the United States to investigate for human rights violations last month, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing Raquel Rolnik had this to say about Los Angeles:
“…precariousness and housing rights violations in a country that is one of the richest and wealthiest countries in the world, which has been a model of economic social organization and had exported this model for the world. It’s very important…..to show who is in and who is out of this model, who is part of it and who is excluded.”
Ms. Rolnik’s resulting report will catapult L.A. ’s housing rights violations to the international stage in March 2010. Housing organizations will be increasing pressures on local officials in preparation for the United Nations hearing on these issues, starting with International Human Rights Day, to hold them accountable for implementation of housing plans and policies that finally make the Human Right to Housing a reality in LA.
Specific Media Opportunities: March and funeral procession (11:00 AM)
Press conference and interviews with residents (12:00 PM)
Mock graveyard in the City Hall lawn (12:45 PM)
Photos and videos also available
Participating organizations include: Beyond Shelter, Coalition LA, Coalition for Economic Survival, Comunidad Presente, Esperanza, KIWA , LA CAN, LACEHH, SAJE, Union de Vecinos
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