Carlos Montes was not expecting visitors at five a.m. After a confusing shuffle of flashlights, badges and broken doors, he ended up in the back seat of a police car in his pajamas, and with no idea of what was going on. They mentioned something about gun possession but it wasn’t clear. It was...
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It may seem surprising for a spiritual man to publish an autobiography titled “Imagine No Religion,” but Blase Bonpane’s convictions are anything but ordinary. On Dec. 11, Bonpane visited The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles to deliver a short speech on themes related to his newly published book. Bonpane, known for his extensive...
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Every day, at 7:30 p.m. in front of City Hall, dozens of “Occupy LA” protesters gather together at general assembly meetings and demonstrate the signs of the times. It isn’t just in their cardboard signs — although the wit behind the pop culture references is usually razor sharp. It’s in their hand signs. Before...
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Linda Valverde went trick-or-treating, but instead of something good to eat, she focused instead on “somewhere good to sleep.” She was one of the many volunteers who marched wearing costumes on Oct. 29. Near the Metro station at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, a variety of groups banded together. It wasn’t yet Halloween, however...
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Streets across Los Angeles were closed Sunday, Oct. 10 in celebration of CicLAvia. It was an open-street festival inspired by the Ciclovias of Bogata, Columbia, where thoroughfares that are usually packed with congested traffic become temporary parks for exercise and community entertainment. Many activists used the opportunity of wide, open spaces to stage action...
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Themes of empowerment and social responsibility permeated a community picnic in Skid Row on Thursday, Sept. 30. The event was both a festival and a protest against the alleged rise in citations against charities distributing food to the homeless in downtown. Groups from the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN), Los Angles Catholic...
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Among the colorful and creative kites flown in Santa Monica to celebrate the U.N.’s International Day of Peace, one group stood in stark contrast. For them, the concept of peace has drifted from sight. Members from the Bradley Manning Support Network, Courage to Resist, We Are Change LA, Code Pink, and various others joined...
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Which has priority when distributing food to the homeless: need or law? Two groups based in downtown Los Angeles are actively debating just that. On one end of the issue exists the non-profit and volunteer-driven organizations devoted to providing food to any in need, whatever the method. At the other end exist government officials,...
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Due to a perceived rise in law enforcement by the Los Angeles Police Department and Department of Public Health, members from a variety of human rights and homeless empowerment organizations joined together to discuss ways to defend, as they put it, their “right to share food.” Members from Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN), Los...
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Activist Jerry Rubin has announced his run for an open spot on Santa Monica’s City Council. This is his fourth run for City Council in ten years. “It’s part of my activist responsibility,” said Rubin. His platform has a heavy emphasis on environmental and sustainable issues. He plans to propose a Santa Monica Tree...
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