JCAC’s Statement in Solidarity with Los Angeles Activist, Alejandro Orellana - Drop the Charges Now!

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee stands in solidarity with our Los Angeles based sister organization, Centro CSO, part of our national organization, NAARPR, in demanding all charges be dropped against Alejandro Orellana. Orellana, an activist with the Centro CSO, a Chicano-led organization, had his home raided by the FBI for protesting deportations in Los Angeles. He faces two trumped up federal charges: Conspiracy to Commit Disorder (which carries up to 5 years in prison) & Aiding and Abetting Civil Disorder. Orellana did nothing wrong, and we fervently reject these bogus charges.

On June 27th, Alejandro Orellana will have his preliminary hearing and first court appearance. The JCAC believes that protesting ICE raids and deportations is not a crime. Orellana has been a leading member of Centro CSO for over a decade, and he has been publicly fighting against ICE raids, as well as the Trump administration’s white supremacist deportation policy.

As a Black-led organization in the Black Belt South, we understand the history of FBI repression of Black Liberation Movements from COINTELPRO to the repression of the Civil Rights Movement. We understand that the same increased police militarization cops and ICE are using towards Chicano and immigrant communities will only be replicated in Black communities once again. As well, the tactics of ICE disappearing community members off our streets does negatively affect black immigrants in Jacksonville and all over the South. We have a duty and responsibility to fight against these repressive tactics and protect our community members by any means necessary.

The JCAC demands all charges be dropped against Alejandro Orellana, and we echo the demand for an end to the deportations and ICE raids across the country.

We invite our community to join us in a National Day of Action on June 27th at 4:30 PM at the Federal Courthouse (300 N. Hogan St.) to voice the above demands by means of a press conference—organized by the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance.

The People United Will Never be Defeated! El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido!