NOCOP Solidarity Statement: Drop the charges on Alejandro Orellana!

On June 12th, the home of Centro CSO leader and activist Alejandro Orellana was unjustly raided by the FBI in Los Angeles. Orellana was raided and arrested due to his activism in the fight for immigrant rights, allegedly because Alejandro distributed PPE to protestors bravely standing up against ICE. The FBI has pressed multiple bogus charges against Alejandro which include “conspiracy to commit civil disorder.” This charge carries a 5 year sentence if he is convicted.

New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police demands the charges against Alejandro Orellana be dropped. Protesting against anti-immigrant injustice is not a crime. Alejandro’s activism is heroic and an inspiration to all of us who are determined to fight against Trump’s racist agenda. We want to see an end to the racist repression of immigrants, including ICE raids and deportations. The only criminals in this equation are Trump and the ICE agent thugs ripping families apart, not Alejandro.

This attack on Alejandro Orellana is not an isolated incident. The FBI has also targeted activists in New Orleans to a lesser extent, knocking on doors attempting to get information from or intimidate activists. Most recently, on July 11th, FBI agents knocked on pro-Palestinian activist Heather Awyan’s door. Heather rightfully shut them down and refused to speak to them.

We have also seen the terror ICE has brought to our city and wider metro-area. ICE’s continued assaults on our communities have been scaled up and indiscriminate in their range and scope. Agents lurk outside immigration court preying on immigrants as their cases are in limbo. They target long-time residents like 47-year-old Iranian Mandonna Kashanian, who was arrested outside her house while gardening.

All who resist ICE and political repression are heroes. The raid on Alejandro’s home and these trumped-up charges are a clear attempt by the Trump administration to try and silence the voice of the people and dissuade protestors from taking action. But we will continue to fight against injustice and police repression. An attack on one is an attack on all.

Solidarity with Los Angeles!

Drop the charges on Alejandro Orellana!