Free Joaquin Cienfuegos

by illvox.org Thu Jul 03, 2008 00:00

Joaquin Cienfuegos, a community activist and organizer with Revolutionary Autonomous Communities, Copwatch Los Angeles and Anarchist People of Color, is under attack and needs your support.

Last week, Cienfuegos was stopped by police and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a serious crime that carries prison time in California.

One of Joaquin’s comrades gave illvox.org permission to post his account of what went down:

At around 11 p.m. we were driving down Lexington Avenue, where were we passed by the two pigs, who were looking at us as we drove by them. Before we got to the end of the block (Lexington and Cahuenga), they hit the lights on us.

Joaquin said “they’re pulling us over” as we were turning down my block (La Mirada Avenue). I told Joaquin not to stop until we got in front of my house, because if they were going to kill us or beat our asses, it was going to happen on my block and in front of my house where people could see.

As he slowed down in front of my house, the pigs came to each side of the car and one ask, “what took you so long to pull over?” and I said, “Because I told him not to stop until we got in front of my house, where we know we’re safe.” The pig said, “you are safe.” I told them “we were in front of my house” and what my address was.

At this point, they asked Joaquin for his drivers license. He didn’t have it because just three or so weeks ago he was robbed and had his his wallet, cell phone taken. They told him to exit the car, where they put cuffs on him right away and asked me if I was on parole or probation and I told them no.

I also told them Joaquin needed to get my wheelchair out of his trunk so I can get out of his car. The pig came to the driver’s side of the car and popped the trunk, went to the back and put the wheelchair together. At that point the pig saw a machete in the trunk and asked Joaquin “what was he doing with a machete?” Joaquin said that “he does gardening work from time to time and it shouldn’t be ‘illegal’ to have a machete in his trunk.”

As I exited the car. they told me I could go home. So I crossed the street and observed them from in front of my home. From afar, I hear the pig ask Joaquin, “what’s in this case?” He lifted the case out of the trunk and went to the back of the squad car… I went into my house to make some calls and then came straight back out, and saw one of the pigs searching the car and ask, “are you going to tow his car?” The pig said “that he has a suspended license” and yes he was.

He then asked me, “did I know that he had an illegal gun in the trunk?” I told the pig, “that’s not my business and how was the gun illegal when I went with him to Turners to buy the gun?” he then said that “It was loaded.”

A couple of members of CW-LA guerrillas showed up with cameras and they took Joaquin off to the Hollywood Division.

Over the weekend, Cienfuegos was transferred from Hollywood Division to the Parker Center. At a court date on Monday, he was charged with felony “possession of concealed weapon.” Cienfuegos is being held on $40,000 bail, and has had his car impounded.

The arrest of Joaquin Cienfuegos is not without context. Cienfuegos has been active in Anarchist People of Color, anti-police brutality and self-determination circles. He has been outspoken in his community organizing, and continues to work actively for a new world. For police to pull over organizers is no coincidence. It is time to mobilize in support of an important voice!

A fundraising committee to try and gain Joaquin’s release is being established. Those in L.A. are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held Wednesday, July 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Chuco Justice Center, 253 W. Martin Luther King Blvd.

****Please visit http://illvox.org/ for more updates.****

http://illvox.org/2008/07/01/free-joaquin-cienfuegos-now/
http://nefac.net/en/freejoaquin

See also:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OtNHjfENDag
http://www.copwatchla.org/

Posted to Anarkismo.net by NEFAC

by Workers Solidarity Alliance - WSA Thu Jul 03, 2008 21:40 wsany at hotmail dot com

July 3, 2008

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 North Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
mayor@lacity.org
Fax at (213) 978-0655

Dear Mr. Mayor:

Please find the Worker Solidarity Alliance's (WSA) statement of solidarity with Mr. Joaquin Cienfuegos of Copwatch LA.

This statement is in regards to the arrest by the Los Angeles Police/Sheriff Department of one Mr. Joaquin Cienfuegos on JUNE 26, 2008 at roughly 11:00PM in Los Angeles.

We the undersigned on behalf of the Worker Solidarity Alliance, and it’s collective membership, one and all, stand in solidarity with and demand the immediate release of one Joaquin Cienfuegos, a founding member of Cop-Watch Los Angeles, from the custody of the Los Angeles Police/Sheriffs Department.

Mr. Cienfuegos, a longtime political and social activist, has long been under special scrutiny by the LAPD for his political stances and his social advocacy work in the community. And based upon the details of Mr. Cienfuegos arrest that have come to our attention we of the WSA feel very strongly that the LA Police/Sheriffs departments have singled out Mr. Cienfuegos for special scrutiny and treatment in this case based upon his political activism, and as such we consider Mr. Cienfuegos to be a political prisoner of the LA Police/Sheriff departments and the City of Los Angeles. We feel strongly that the arrest of Mr. Cienfuegos was carried out in violation of Mr. Cienfuegos civil rights and with malicious intent by the Los Angeles Police/Sheriff Department and the arresting officers.

Furthermore we feel strongly that every day that Mr. Cienfuegos remains in the custody of the LAPD that his well-being, health, and in fact very life, are threatened due to his political stance and activism vis-vis the LAPD. The exorbitant 40,000 USD amount set for Mr. Cienfuegos bail is completely unacceptable, and in our eyes is clearly an attempt to keep Mr. Cienfuegos in indefinite police custody pending trial, we feel strongly that this unacceptably high bail is a malicious attempt by the judiciary of the city of Los Angeles to castigate and punish Mr. Cienfuegos due to his political and social activism.

We the membership of the Worker Solidarity Alliance stand in full solidarity with Mr. Joaquin Cienfuegos, and if any physical harm should befall Mr. Cienfuegos during his time in the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department, or any other department or agency of the city of Los Angeles, we the WSA will hold you, the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, the Los Angeles Police/Sheriff Department, and the judiciary of the city of Los Angeles directly and personally responsible for any such misfortune.

Free Joaquin!

In solidarity with Joaquin Cienfuegos!

Very truly yours,

Workers Solidarity Alliance
339 Lafayette St, Room 202
New York, NY 10012
wsany@hotmail.com

WSA California:
San Francisco:
info@workersolidarity.org.

by Tyrone Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:53

These two videos were made available from Copwatch LA. The first shows Joaquin presenting an invite to a benefit show for the Black Rider 3 about one week prior to Joaquins arrest. The second is a call for solidarity and mutual aid for Joaquin by two members of Copwatch LA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRg-6L1_Ae8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVt7nGq87hk

by RAC/Copwatch LA Sun Jul 13, 2008 07:45

From Revolutionary Autonomous Communities- Los Angeles:

Film Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueQnY9TRNZw

------
In English
(En Español abajo)

The Revolutionary Autonomous Communities is putting out a call for their film, "We're Still Here, We Never Left" to be screened at your university, community center, church and anywhere else.

The film documents the truth about the police repression on May 1st, 2007, and also shows the growing popular movement in oppressed communities.

It has footage never before seen on the mainstream media.

We hope to create dialogue with the film, a space for popular education, and a movement. We are also using the film screenings to raise funds for RAC and its community programs.

We want this film to be seen all over, in different cities and possibly different nations.

The film will also be available soon for distribution.

Contact us at rac@riseup.net if you're interested in organizing an event.
----------
En Español
(In English above)

Las Comunidades Autónomas Revolucionarias están haciendo una llamada para su película, "Todavia estamos aquí, Nunca nos fuimos" para que sea ensenada en su universidad, centro de comunidad, iglesia y en cualquier otro lugar.

La película documenta la verdad sobre la represión de la policía el 1 de mayo de 2007, y también demuestra el movimiento popular que esta creciendo en comunidades oprimidas.

Tiene imagenes que nunca se han visto en los medios de comunicacion.

Esperamos crear diálogo con la película, un espacio para la educación popular, y un movimiento. Quisiéramos que esta película se vea por todas partes, en diversas ciudades y posiblemente diversas naciones.

La película también estará pronto para la distribución después de que el viaje de discurso.

Nuestro correo electronico rac@riseup.net