New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Civil Rights

Weigh in on Fair Housing Issues at upcoming Santa Ana workshops

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Affordable Housing, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Housing, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The public is invited to join the City of Santa Ana, the County of Orange and other area cities for a special discussion on fair housing issues at a series of workshops this month.

The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing workshops are conducted every five years as required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This year, 34 cities and the County of Orange are participating in a regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.

The public input received at these meetings will be used by county and city agencies to help address housing needs and prioritize funding. The community meetings are grouped by regions: North Orange County, Central Orange County, West Orange County and South Orange County, but residents from anywhere in the county can attend any of the meetings.

Learn about the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing process and how it contributes to advancing fair housing opportunities for all county residents. Share your thoughts on existing fair housing barriers and help form fair housing goals and priorities.

South Orange County:
Thursday, Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Mission Viejo Saddleback Room II
200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

West Orange County:
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.
Westminster Miriam Warne Community Room
14491 Beach Blvd.
Westminster, CA 92683

Central Orange County:
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Santa Ana City Council Chambers
22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92702

North Orange County:
Thursday, Jan. 30, 6 p.m.
Fullerton Public Library Community Conference Center
353 W. Commonwealth Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832

For more information:
714-765-4300 ext. 4891
mgallardo@anaheim.net

Translation services available upon request.

City of Santa Ana allocates $70, 000 in grant opportunities to artists and art organizations

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Civil Rights, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: City of Santa Ana allocates $70,000 in grant opportunities to artists and art organizations – Apply by May 3, 2018

For over 200 years, Santa Ana has had a rich art and cultural presence in our region. Our city has always been a place of intersections, where cultural diversity dwells amidst historic beauty. For the funding cycle of 2018-2019, the City of Santa Ana has allocated $70,000 and invites artists and art organizations/cooperatives to dive into our local history, showcase our diverse residents, highlight our architecture, and explore our natural beauty to celebrate the local community in a variety of mediums: Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Writing, Poetry, Music, Dance, Fashion, and Culinary.

The Santa Ana Arts and Culture Commission supports projects that will enrich and invigorate the City of Santa Ana’s arts and culture landscape, improve the quality of life for its residents, and stimulate its economic development. Individual artists and ar ts & culture cooperatives and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply. Continue reading→

Santa Ana to honor Cesar Chavez, who used the term wetbacks and opposed Mexican immigrants

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, immigration, Jose Solorio, Labor, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

https://youtu.be/lQ9jIXHhFJI

Cesar Chavez believed ferociously in the border of the United States — because that border protected his union. So ferociously did he hold this view that the New York Times ran a story detailing an accusation that the union Chavez founded, the United Farm Workers, set up a 100 mile “wet line” to keep “wetbacks” and “illegals” — yes, all of those are Chavez’s words — out of the United States, according to the American Spectator.

A 1969 article in the Lodi News-Sentinel also quoted Dolores Huerta, who helped found the UFW with Chavez, using the term. “There is a detention camp for wetbacks at Coachella from where they’re (wetbacks) (sic) taken out every day to work in the fields,” one article says, according to the Huffington Post. Continue reading→

KKK members stabbed three counter-protesters at a rally in Anaheim today

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Civil Rights, Crime, Politics 3 Comments

Several people were stabbed, one with a flag pole, during a brawl on Saturday morning between self-described Ku Klux Klan members and counter-protesters at Pearson Park, in Anaheim today, according to the O.C. Register.

The attack happened at around 11 a.m. this morning when five KKK members showed up at Pearson Park. The KKK leaders had announced their intention to rally at the park earlier this week. The clan members drove up in a vehicle and were confronted by protesters right away.

The Anaheim Police claimed that the protesters attacked the Klansmen. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Kiwanis Club addresses human rights

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, mexico, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Oriana Cordero Dernehl

Human Rights now on the Radar in Santa Ana

The Santa Ana Kiwanis Club addresses Human Rights as the UN International Human Rights Summit approaches this August

SANTA ANA, CA – Aug. 6, 2015 – Admittedly, human rights are not acknowledged around the world. Here in Santa Ana, the issue is now on the radar with the Kiwanis Club.

Last week the Santa Ana Kiwanis Club welcomed the Executive Director for the Youth for Human Rights International’s Orange County Chapter, Oriana Cordero Dernehl, who works to educate youth about human rights.

“I have seen how people change by knowing these human rights and teaching them to others. After my presentation, several leaders approached me because they want presentations in their own churches and groups. This year is the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and it is more important than ever for each of us to know what our rights are.” Continue reading→

The County of Orange is dumping Mississippi’s Confederate flag at the Civic Center

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Orange County, Politics, Racism, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

The County of Orange Flag

Supervisor Todd Spitzer Announces Plan to Place OC City and Military Flags at the OC Civic Center

By: Todd Spitzer, Chairman of the O.C. Board of Supervisors

This week at the Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Spitzer requested that the County members of the Civic Center Joint Power Authority seek to replace the 50 state flags in the Plaza of the Flags with the flags of Orange County’s 34 cities, the County flag, the State flag, the U.S. flag, and the flags of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

The request was made by Supervisor Spitzer to remove the Confederate Flag from flying in the Civic Center and to help build unity amongst the County and the cities. The Confederate Flag is currently part of the flag of the State of Mississippi. To many, the Confederate Flag represents one of the darkest and most shameful eras in the history of our country. Continue reading→

2015 O.C. May Day March set for May 1 at Sasscer Park in Santa Ana

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Entertainment, Santa Ana 2 Comments

The annual 2015 Santa Ana May Day march will take place on May 1, 2015, from 2 to 5 pm, at Sasscer Park, which is named after former SAPD police officer Nelson K. Sasscer, who was ambushed, shot and killed by a member of the Black Panthers way back in 1969.

Sasscer Park is located at Ross and 5th St., in Santa Ana.

The event is organized by the OC Mayday Coalition. Continue reading→

Santa Ana police investigate KKK propaganda left in neighborhood

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Civil Rights, Crime, Racism, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Police investigate KKK propaganda left in neighborhood

Santa Ana police officers respond to a resident who reported he found a small zip-loc baggy containing a rock, a candy, a flyer, and a KKK business card on his driveway this morning in the 2600 block of N Linwood St in Santa Ana.

The flyer contains anti-MLK propaganda. Approximately 40 similar bags were distributed sometime during the evening to various residences within a four block radius. No specific threat was noted on the business card and no crime can be established at this point. Continue reading→

O.C. Human Relations Commission plans police community dialogues

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Orange County, Police Brutality, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Orange County Human Relations Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2014

Contact: Ken Inouye, Chair, OC Human Relations Commission, 949-586-6640

Commission Plans Police Community Dialogues

An African American woman shared that her kindergartener asked, “Mommy, why don’t police like Black people like me?”

This anecdote earlier this month symbolized the reach and impact of the national media attention to a series of conflicts between African American young men and police officers resulting in violence and death.

In California Proposition 47 passed aiming to reduce the number of people incarcerated for non-violent offenses.
In Anaheim destructive demonstrations followed after a series of shooting deaths of suspected gang members by the police.
In Santa Ana activists demonstrated at city council meetings with profane messages on their hats and shirts targeting the police.

Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez comments on International Human Rights Day

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District
STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Barb Solish, Barb.Solish@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46) today released the following statement in honor of International Human Rights Day, which marks the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Every year, International Human Rights Day reminds us of the work that still must be done in the global effort to protect human rights. As we get closer to a vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), we must acknowledge the egregious human rights violations that continue to be committed by the Vietnamese government. As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, I have witnessed Vietnam make empty promise after empty promise that it will improve its human rights record. Enough is enough; we must put human rights before economic gain. Continue reading→

Protest against the killing of 43 Mexican students set for 11/20 in Santa Ana

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Drugs, Education, Entertainment, mexico, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A group of local students led by Emmanuel Gonzalez, a Beckman High School student, has organized a protest in Santa Ana against the murder of 43 students who went missing Sept. 26 after a confrontation with police in Iguala, 80 miles southwest of Mexico City.

There are allegations that the Mayor of Iguala and his wife conspired with the police and drug gangs to kill the 43 students who had come to town to collect money and had commandeered buses. Continue reading→

Young man’s rude protest results in the shut down of tonight’s City Council meeting

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Free Speech, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 83 Comments

Bijan and his ridiculous hat

Mayor Miguel Pulido canceled Tuesday night’s Santa Ana City Council meeting after a man refused to remove a cap with an anti-police expletive on it, according to the OC Register.

The young man in question, identified as “Bijan” is affiliated with Santa Ana CopWatch. They posted this message on their Facebook page after the City Council meeting was shut down, “The city council meeting got shut down. The mayor and the cops tried a bluff saying that if we didn’t leave that we would get arrested. Over a hat. The cops were even showing off their cuffs. We stayed and it got shut down. Media was there so expect it in the news. In solidarity with all survivors and victims of police violence. From Santa Ana to Ferguson to Palestine: F*ck the Police.”

These actions were clearly premeditated. The ruckus actually began over a month ago at a previous Council meeting when Mayor Miguel Pulido was upset that while he was trying to give service awards to two Santa Ana police officers there were protestors seated in the Council Chambers holding “f*ck the police” signs. No one on the City Council said or did anything about that and in fact they all ignored the police too. Pulido was the only one who congratulated them on their awards. The meeting left a very negative impression on the members of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association and their President, John Franks, later sent a stern letter to the City Council announcing that unless they could control what happened at their meetings he would not allow his officers to receive awards in Chambers but instead they would be given out at the SAPD headquarters. Continue reading→

OC Human Relations Commission calls for humane treatment of immigrant children

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Central America, Civil Rights, immigration, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2014

CONTACT: Ken Inouye, Chair, 949-586-6640/Becky Esparza, Vice-Chair, 714-893-9834/Rusty Kennedy, CEO, 714-480-6585

Commission Calls for Humane Treatment and Protection of Central American Children

Concerns about the increasing number of Central American children detained and held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came to a head this year with raucous demonstrations in Murrieta where ICE buses bringing these children from the border were blocked by demonstrators. ICE has for some time contracted with Orange County and other non-profit organizations to provide shelter for some of these unaccompanied minors seized at the border.

Commission Concerned About These Children Continue reading→

The politicians were all over the “non-political” Fiestas Patrias fiesta and parade

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Ballot Measures, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Free Speech, Politics, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Loretta Sanchez at the Fiestas Patrias Parade

U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez playing politics at the 2014 Fiestas Patrias Parade

As we reported in earlier posts, the City of Santa Ana forbade the Measure CC medical marijuana initiative campaign from reaching out to the voters at this weekend’s Fiestas Patrias fiesta and parade in Downtown Santa Ana. But lo and behold there were politicians all over DTSA this weekend! Thanks to our friends from OC Norml for the pictures.

Most of the politicians pictured below are going to be on the November General Election ballot. But because they are incumbents the City of Santa Ana gives them more free speech rights than their opponents, who are outright banned from participating with booths at the fiesta or riding in the parade. I expect that the ACLU will be filing a lawsuit against the City of Santa Ana soon as this is a blatantly unconstitutional abridgment of free speech by our city leaders. Continue reading→

Outrageous free speech hypocrisy on display at the DTSA Fiestas Patrias event

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Ballot Measures, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Democratic Party, Gerardo Mouet, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Congresswoman Sanchez' booth at the Fiestas Patrias

The City of Santa Ana says U.S. Rep. Sanchez “isn’t political”

Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Agency Director Gerardo Mouet called me today to assure me that all is on the up and up over at the Fiestas Patrias event that is taking place this weekend in Downtown Santa Ana.

Mouet explained that it is okay to let local elected officials participate in the Fiestas Patrias because, well, they’re elected. But it is not okay for other candidates and campaigns to have booths at the Fiestas Patrias or participate in the parade on Sunday because, well, they’re not elected.

Huh? Did I miss something? Does becoming an elected official automatically bestow extra Constitutional powers to our incumbent politicians? Because that is what Mouet is saying. Free speech is apparently available in Santa Ana but only if you were fortunate enough to win an election. Free speech is not extended to anyone else! Is this what we expected from our all-Democrat Santa Ana City Council? Does this mean the “Santa Ana Spring” is dead? Continue reading→