Los Angeles: Demand Release of Immigrant Rights Activists

The growing atmosphere of bigotry and hate that lead to Arizona’s SB1070 is also fueling an unprecedented increase in the deportations of undocumented immigrants, increased police/ICE collaboration, border militarization, ethnic cleansing disguised as “attrition through enforcement”, and the push for a constitutional amendment removing birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. It is in this atmosphere, and with a feeling of moral obligation and political necessity to act, that The Todos Somos Arizona Collective was born.

Arizona’s SB1070, a bill that mandates racial profiling, was signed into law by Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer in late April. The bill’s racism and intent to criminalize entire communities sparked protests and resistance through acts of civil disobedience in Arizona and throughout the country. Todos Somos Arizona organized a protest for May 6th, where 14 people were arrested while blocking access to the Federal Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. On July 29th, the day SB 1070 took effect, 10 more people were arrested in an act of civil disobedience at the Los Angeles headquarters of G4S/Wackenhut Corporation, a private prison and security corporation that lobbied for and stands to profit from SB 1070.

Now, these 24 individuals have become the targets of Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich’s attempt to criminalize activists. Trutanich is charging protestors with at least three misdemeanors and has publically stated that he could seek six months to a year in jail for the organizers and activists who carried out these important protests.

We are asking you to join us in our campaign calling on City Attorney Carmen Trutanich to stop criminalizing those who take a stand for civil and human rights and demand that he drop all charges against these protesters. Right now we ask you to do this by calling Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who took a stand against SB1070, and demand that he, as the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, stand on the side of justice and human rights by immediately demanding publicly that the City Attorney drop all charges.

We are proud to follow in the footsteps and tradition of civil disobedience exemplified by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. As racist attacks on immigrants and communities of color increase, we must rise and stand together, echoing clearly and strongly the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “It is our moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”

We call on you to do the following in solidarity:

- Continue to resist and organize in your communities against racism and for social and economic justice.

- Call Mayor Antonio Villaragosa and demand he publicly call on City Attorney Trutanich to demand that all charges be dropped. State where you are calling from and that you want the Mayor to stand for justice and support those who stand against racism and the criminalization of whole communities. Call now! Our next court date is November 5th and we want to turn up the heat on the mayor before that date. Mayor’s Office: 213-978-0600.

- Continue to follow our case and watch for opportunities to support us and others facing prosecution for standing up for justice and dignity. Our campaign will continue to grow as we move through the legal process and more calls to action will follow. For more information visit: http://www.facebook.com/todossomosarizona

- Sign our petition: http://humanrights.change.org/petitions/view/do_not_criminalize_our_communities_do_not_criminalize_resistance

Thank you so much for your support!

(the Tod@s Somos Arizona Collective)