Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

RIVERSIDE (CA) - Sunday, November 6, 2011 - Approximately 25 police in riot gear raided the peaceful encampment of Occupy Riverside yesterday afternoon. They dismantled and confiscated tents to the jeers of the demonstrators. The booth set up for the People's Kitchen and the media table were consolidated in the center of the plaza, and, in attempt to defend these stations and personal belongings, occupiers linked arms and formed a human chain around them.

In total 11 were arrested. There are many reports of police violence during the arrests; Many people were slammed to the ground, had their faced smashed into the concrete, and had the knees of officers applied to their necks and heads.

Reports from the Newswire:

Report From Occupy Riverside Police Raid by Rockero

Riverside Occupy encampment broken up by Kevin Akin

VIDEO: Occupy Riverside Raid November 6, 2011 by fbjr222

RPD Raid on Occupy Riverside 11-6-11 by OccupyRiv

BREAKING: Occupy Riverside getting raided RIGHT NOW by LA-IMC

UPDATE with video: Rally to Protect Free Speech from Police Brutality by Rockero

As the Occupy LA camp approached its one-month mark, various issues were being addressed: Participants have been discussing how to create balance between revolution and partying, how to make the camp more engaging and inviting for passersby, and what to do if the Mayor/City Council decide the camp is no longer welcomed. Also, the occupation has agreed to join forces with the South Central Farm. Some of these issues were recently discussed on Uprising Radio.

The numerous world/societal problems being addressed at the occupation, besides the 1%, which affects everything, include legalizing marijuana, the continued dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy, chem trails, impact of the war economy on Americans, and environmentally-sane lifestyles. New signs are being created all the time at the camp.

Photos: Pictures of Occupy L.A. (Oct. 24, 2011) R of the Northeast L.A. Radical Neighbors | Occupy LA / Imagine Fairness by Robert Stuart Lowden Occupy LA / Imagine Fairness /Photoset 2 by Robert Stuart Lowden

Meanwhile, indigenous people around the country are calling on the Occupy movements to represent and support first people's wishes and views. A poster seen at various demonstrations points out that "Wall St. is on occupied Algonquin land." Recently, "Occupy Albuquerque" has been renamed to "(Un)Occupy Albuquerque".

Here in LA (known as Yangna to the Tongva people), the emphasis has been placed on trying to get Occupy LA to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. The US, of course, is among the few countries that voted against it (along with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand). (Although, here in California, San Luis Obispo Country officially recognized it last August 9. More here.) Poltical prisoner Leonard Peltier has also been emphasized, both here and on Wall Street. An issue very close to home is the desecration of Tongva burials at La Placita (aka: La Plaza), and there has been talk of having a march to there from Occupy LA.

Article: Report: The Indigenous Committee at Occupy LA by RP

On October 21, Occupy LA marched on Fox News because of its role in creating so many of our dire problems plus its ridicule of the Occupy Movement. Story and photos: Occupy LA and Others Protest Outside Fox News Shareholder Meeting by A | Video: VIDEO: Protest At Fox Studios by FYI

There has been some criticism about the running and operation of the camp: "In spite of some people's best efforts, OccupyLA has managed to re-create all the ills of the society we purport to change, right down to the do-gooders who want to tweak our system to make the problems less visible." Commentary: OccupyLA Still Here, and Coming Soon to a Hood Near You by Federica Lorca

In Riverside, the occupation that began on October 15 remains vibrant and strong with a reported 60 people participating in daily actions and about 30 camping. There has been a demonstration at a local Wal*Mart and solidarity with the people of Oakland in the wake of the massive police brutality there. One incident of police brutality has been reported in Riverside.

Reports and pictures by Rockero: Update from Occupy Riverside Day 12 Riverside Womyn of Color for Decolonization Spearhead Oakland Solidarity Rally | Video: Occupy Riverside disrupts auction of WWII vet's foreclosed home by Occupy Riverside

Updates by IMC-LA: BREAKING: Occupy Riverside reports three arrests outside of a Chase bank | BREAKING: Occupy Riverside getting raided RIGHT NOW | Photos from Riverside Raid

Monday, October 24: After 90+ minutes of open discussion, City Council's Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved Councilwoman Jan Perry's proposal, though the announcement was rather low-key. Perry was not present herself but filled the room with residents of the low-income housing project Pueblo Del Rio (who were bused in and treated to a free lunch) and employees of PIMA, the company which hopes to develop the entire property. They wore shirts custom-made for this occasion. The measure will now be reintroduced to the full City Council, probably in mid-November. The South Central Farm is calling on Angelinos to contact their City Council members (contact info. at the bottom of this article).

Perry's proposal was the source of several unflattering remarks about City Council. "[W]e'll have to look into how some council members may be part of the increasingly unpopular 1%," said Bruce Campbell, whose involvement in that land goes back to 1986, when he opposed the Lancer trash incinerator.

"Releasing the owner [of an obligation for] a community soccer field so that he can increase his profit margin in a proposed sale is exactly why there are people occupying cities across the country and right here in front of City Hall," stated Linda Pierre-Avilla, another long-time South Central Farm supporter.

Report and photos: Jan Perry's Attempt to Remove Green Space Requirement Gains Steam by RP | Video: Urban Farming: LA City Council votes on Fate of South Central Farm by wsrcreative

LOS ANGELES, October 22, 2011 - The 16th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality held a protest this Saturday with a march from downtown to a rally at MacArthur Park, the site of LAPD's 2007 May Day attack on a peaceful demonstration for immigrant's rights.

Many of those marching were family members who have lost loved ones to police violence. Alicia Alvarez of Lynwood came with her family to fight for justice for her son, Johnathan, who was shot and killed by a Lynwood sheriff deputy on October 10, 2010.

About three hundred people took part in the march, some from the on going Occupy LA encampment at city hall. Many of the speakers at the rally cited racism as one of the root causes for police violence. The basic structure of the capitalist economic system was also denounced as a cause of police brutality.
Reports from the Newswire:

PHOTOS: O22, 2011 National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality March by A | DAY 22, OCCUPY LA by Marcus

AUDIO: Johnathan Cuevas Victim of Police Murder, a Family's Fight for Justice by A

VIDEO: Video interview from Stop Police Brutality Rally by Anarcho Paparazzi | Oct 22nd Rally Footage by ILIDIO

This year Columbus Day was protested at several locations in Southern California. In Santa Barbara, AIM (American Indian Movement) Southern California organized its third annual demonstration ( "Challenging The Myth Of Columbus") at the Dolphin Fountain at the foot of Stern's Wharf. Prior to that, activists visited other locations of historical significance: Precidio and De La Guerra. Participants were able to articulate their views of Columbus to the media: An Anti-Columbus Day Rally Stirs Up a Lot of Heat (video). There was talk of a Columbus "hanging" at Cal State Puvungna/Long Beach; and at the San Juan Capistrano Mission, the 10th annual Columbus Day protest was held. (Usually on Columbus Day, other actions like banner drops on freeway overpasses occur throughout Southern California, but at the time of this writing, none had been reported this year.)

The 10th annual protest at Mission San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday October 12 was well-attended and lively. About an hour into the demonstration, this author did a rough count of 28 participants, who occupied all corners of the intersection. There was a lot of road traffic and pedestrians, surprising considering it was the middle of a weekday. A large group of uniformed school children passed us several times before entering the mission. Many of the students seemed curious about the protest signs.

Article and photos: Columbus Day Protested in Southern California by RP | Photos of Columbus Day Protest: Mission San Juan Capistrano by Isabel Avilla