New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Civil Rights

May Day at the Santa Ana City Council meeting on May 6

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Entertainment, immigration, mexico, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Join the OC May Day Coalition this Monday night, at 5:30 pm, at the Santa Ana City Council meeting, as they come together to share their stories and demand that the Council Members and Mayor Miguel Pulido stop the contract between the police department and ICE. Their message is to stop deportations!

There are only two immigrants left on our City Council today – Mayor Miguel Pulido and Councilman Vince Sarmiento. David Benavides, Michele Martinez and Roman Reyna are however fluent in Pocho. Continue reading→

Santa Ana College’s Book of the Year events inspired by “The Help”

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Civil Rights, Education, Entertainment, Literature, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Rancho Santiago Community College District, Press Release
For Immediate Release: April 17, 2013
Contact: Judy Iannaccone, Director, Communications, (714) 480-7503, iannaccone_judy@rsccd.edu

Santa Ana College Book of the Year Events Feature Performance of Acclaimed NAACP Award-Winning One-Woman Show “Oh, Yes She Did!” on April 24

(Santa Ana)—During this academic year, students, staff, and faculty members at Santa Ana College (SAC) have read and discussed the 2012-2013 Book of the Year, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Written in 2009, The Help is the story of African-American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi, during the early 1960s.

SAC faculty have included the novel, its themes and civil rights-related topics in their coursework and class discussions. The year-long emphasis will culminate with the following four events slated for this spring: Continue reading→

Pro gay marriage vigil to be held at the Reagan Courthouse on 3/26

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Courts, Entertainment, LGBT Leave a comment

There will be a vigil at the Federal Courthouse during the oral arguments on the constitutionality of DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act), on Tuesday, March 26, at 6:30 pm.

On March 26th & 27, 2013 the Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS) will be listening to oral arguments on the constitutionality of DOMA, which states that marriage is between one man and one woman. Many now feel that it is time to show the depth of equality and justice for all. Continue reading→

Natl. Assn. of Equal Justice in America community meeting in Santa Ana today

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Courts, Crime, Entertainment, Labor, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The National Association of Equal Justice in America is hosting a meeting in Santa Ana today, Feb. 23, 2013, from 2 pm to 4 pm, at 3135 W. Warner Ave, in Santa Ana.

National Association for Equal Justice In America (NAEJA) was founded by Royce W. Esters of California. NAEJA received the Seal of the State of California on September 11, 1997, and was officially recognized as a charitable, non-profit organization, with a 501(c)3 status on May 20, 1998.

PURPOSE: Continue reading→

SAPD shooting of Binh Van Nguyen leads to a $10 million dollar lawsuit

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Crime, Drugs, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Westminster 8 Comments

The shooting of Binh Van Nguyen by SAPD police officers has blown up and led to a $10 million dollar lawsuit by the widow of the victim. Here are the latest news articles about this emerging story:

Click here to read the O.C. Register’s article about the shooting of Binh Van Nguyen, 39, of Westminster, when he drove a car towards SAPD officers, after he was observed in the backseat of that car for hours, according to witnesses.
Click here to read about the reaction of the family of Van Nguyen, as reported by the O.C. Register.
Click here to read about what happened at the SAPD Town Hall meeting about the death of Van Nguyen.
Click here to read about the family’s side of the story – they dispute the facts as presented by the SAPD.
Click here to read about the $10 million dollar lawsuit filed by the wife of Van Nguyen.
Click here to read about the huge turnout at Van Nguyen’s funeral. Continue reading→

Shocking video – Santa Ana school police caught red-handed

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Crime, Latinos, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD 17 Comments

A brave young man named Ángel Juárez, of CopWatch Santa Ana, showed up near a Santa Ana school on Dec. 18, with a video camera after reports had come his way that a local Santa Ana school policeman was harassing young Latinos. Sure enough the police officer pulled over a car and the cameraman began filming the action.

The police officer quickly called in backup and it got ugly. The other police officers kept asking why the young man was in front of a school with a camera when it was pretty obvious he was there to catch a harassing cop in action.

There were five cops at the scene before long and they were all very intimidating as you will see in the video above. The cameraman and his friends were ultimately detained for “suspicious activity” and searched, over their objections. Continue reading→

How Mayoral candidate Benavides ended up honoring the Minutemen

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Editor Posted in 2012 Elections, Civil Rights, David Benavides, Elections, George Collins, Glen Stroud, immigration, Latinos, Lupe Moreno, Politics, Racism, Republican Party, Rosie Avila, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Hatergate: How Council Member David Benavides ended up honoring the Minutemen in July, 2010

By: Art Pedroza

It started out innocently enough. The City of Santa Ana didn’t have the budget to put on their own 4th of July event, back in July of 2010, so they allowed a group of residents to put on their own event – and the City’s Parks and Recreation Agency let them use the Santa Ana Public Library, over in the Civic Center, to stage the event.

It made sense I suppose to have a Library Commissioner run the show. She was also at the time heading up the Friends of the Library. But upon closer scrutiny, there was a major problem. The lady in question was Lupe Moreno, a notorious Minuteman. These are folks who absolutely hate immigrants and who have been accused of hate crimes. When Moreno found herself needing more volunteers it was her Minutemen friends who got the call. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint tonight at 2300 W. 5th St., in Santa Ana

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Advisory: The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint April 13th, 2012.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, April 13th, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2300 W. 5th Street, in the City of Santa Ana. In the event of heavy rain, the checkpoint will be suspended and officers will be deployed in a saturation patrol format. Continue reading→

Orange County heroes wanted

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

**MEDIA ALERT**
December 15, 2011
CONTACT: Don Han, (714) 796-8361, don@ochumanrelations.org

Call for Nominations: Orange County Heroes Wanted

Seeking Those Who Take a Stand for Civil Rights, Diversity, Safe and Inclusive Schools and Community-Oriented Policing

What: OC Human Relations is seeking nominations of individuals, law enforcement, schools, and community organizations that have made lasting contributions to human relations in Orange County to be honored at Awards 41 on May 10, 2012 at the City National Grove of Anaheim. Continue reading→

Time to shut down Occupy?

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Crime, irvine, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 23 Comments

UPDATE: Intense pressure is building all over the U.S. to shut down Occupy as the encampents have become increasingly squalid and dangerous. NEW – Deaths at Occupy Camps Bring Pressure for Shutdown (ABC)

The Occupy movement is still licking their wounds over the Santa Ana’s justifiable decision to not allow them to camp out overnight in our downtown. They will be in Irvine again this Saturday if you want to see them in “action.” They may also be in Santa Ana, in smaller numbers. Click here to see their Facebook page.

In the meantime, here is a wrap-up of Occupy news from around the nation – and it isn’t good news:

Man Shot at Occupy Oakland – A young man was fatally shot Thursday evening just yards from the Occupy Oakland encampment outside City Hall. (San Francisco Chronicle).
Suicide at Occupy Vermont – Police say preliminary investigations show a 35-year-old military veteran fatally shot himself in the head at an Occupy Wall Street encampment in Burlington. (New York Times). Continue reading→

Update: Santa Ana Occupy’s camping bid is D.O.A.

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Crime, David Benavides, Drugs, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 47 Comments

UPDATE: Barely over 20 Occupy protesters marched at the Santa Ana Art Walk on Saturday, according to the OC Weekly. Obviously this is a very small movement…no doubt our Santa Ana City Council will take that into account on Monday night.

“Santa Ana’s City Council on Monday will undertake a discussion of the city’s no-camping ordinances in response to the Occupy OC movement’s wish to establish a long-term presence in the Civic Center,” according to the O.C. Register.

Santa Ana Council Members David Benavides and Michele Martinez put the 85B item on the agenda – forcing the rest of the City Council to consider allowing the Occupy movement to camp out overnight in Downtown Santa Ana.

Is this a good idea? Well, consider what has happened in other communities that have allowed their city centers to be overrun at night by Occupy protesters: Continue reading→

Exclusive: Chases among those invited to Santa Ana Latino Jewish Forum

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Claudia Alvarez, Latinos, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 24 Comments

Irv and Ryan Chase

A few out of town bloggers appear to be having a fit because they weren’t invited to Thursday’s Santa Ana Latino Jewish Forum. It is sad that some folks have to attack everything – even something positive, like this community event.

I was able to get a hold of a partial list of those who were invited to this event, which is also being broadcast live online for those who could not attend. Irv and Ryan Chase were invited. I hope they attend. Others who were invited include a Who’s Who of Santa Ana’s community leaders, including: Continue reading→

Alvarez Latino-Jewish forum to be broadcast live online

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Claudia Alvarez, Entertainment, Free Speech, Latinos, Politics, Santa Ana 12 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2011

Contact: Jose Gonzalez, City Manager’s Office, 714-647-5200 – Office, 714-822-4415 – Cell

City of Santa Ana Hosts “Agent of Change” Community Forum on Cultural Diversity

SANTA ANA, Calif. (October 25, 2011) – Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, in conjunction with the City of Santa Ana, is hosting a Community Forum on Cultural Diversity and Conflict Resolution, on Thursday, October 27, 2011. The Community Forum will be held at the Santa Ana Police Community Room at 60 Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Continue reading→

Santa Ana partially occupied – the SAPD won’t allow camping overnight

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Banking, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Democratic Party, Free Speech, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 3 Comments

“Just under 200 feisty protesters with Occupy Orange County marched Santa Ana streets this afternoon, chanted anti-corporate slogans and won supportive horn honks from hundreds of passing motorists,” according to the O.C. Weekly.

The OC Weekly also reported that the SAPD is not going to allow camping, making this a partial occupation. Here is the SAPD’s press release: Continue reading→

March to end police brutality, in Santa Ana, on Oct. 22, at 12 noon

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Costa Mesa, Entertainment, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 5 Comments

A National Day of Action against Police Brutality is set for this Saturday, Oct. 22, at 12 noon, in Santa Ana, at the corner of Bristol and McFadden. The event will include a march.

No more innocent lives stolen by the police
Stop police brutality
Stop stealing our cars
More funds for the community, not for the police Continue reading→