July 9, 2025

New Students for a Democratic Society at University of Illinois Chicago Says, Protesting Is Not a Crime! Drop the Charges on Alejandro Orellana!

You can find the statement linked here on Instagram.

New Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Illinois Chicago condemn the bogus charges placed on East Los Angeles Chicano activist, Alejandro Orellana. He is facing two federal charges: one for conspiracy to commit civil disorder and another for aiding and abetting civil disobedience. These charges can place him in prison for up to five years.

On June 12th, 2025, Orellana’s home was raided by the FBI, and he was arrested. Centro CSO, the organization which he is a leading member of, mobilized for his immediate release which was successful.

Alejandro Orellana is an inspiration to activists. Over the past 10 years  he has helped organize the movement against the killing of Chicanos by the police and for legalization for all the undocumented. Centro CSO most recently has been a leading organization in the Chicano/Latino resistance in LA against Trump’s escalating military terror against immigrants.

Orellana is being criminalized for protesting and defending immigrants. This attack is blatant racist and political repression. The people of Los Angeles have a right to resist illegal ICE searches, brutality and military presence in their barrios. The attack on Orellana is an attempt to imprison a leader of the movement, and scare those daring to struggle against oppression. We say, “PROTESTING IS NOT CRIME!”

Alejandro Orellana and anyone facing injustice has the democratic right to protest. We call on people to join us this 27th of June to defend Orellana and his charges dropped:

Join the press conference being organized by the CAARPR, OCAD, USPCN and other organizations at Federal Plaza, at 12pm.

Call U.S. Attorney Bills Essayli and demand the charges be dropped:

”MY NAME IS (YOUR NAME) FROM (CITY OR ORG), DEMANDING THAT ATTORNEY BILL DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS HERO ALEJANDRO ORELLANA!”

Donate to legal fund: Venmo @CentroCSO or Zelle CSO at 3235803764

FROM CHICAGO TO LOS ANGELES, ICE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES!

DEFEND AND EXPAND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, LEGALIZATION FOR ALL!

RESISTANCE IS JUSTIFIED, WHEN OUR BARRIOS ARE OCCUPIED!