CTCAV Newsletter
November 16, 2023 Newsletter
Stephaine Luna and Raquel Derfler at the COC
Welcome to the Cancel the Contract Newsletter, read CTC’s testimony at the LA Civilian Oversight Commission, the Thanksgiving Boycott of WinCo Foods for racist policies and staff, and upcoming events below.
The next CTC Coalition Meeting will be Monday November 27 in person at the CTC Offices
Recent Events
Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission (COC) Meeting November 9
CTC traveled to LA to attend the monthly COC meeting, which focused on LASD’s harassment of the families of individuals killed by LASD. These families face additional trauma at the hands of LASD when they speak out about LASD’s actions. CTC Steering Committee Member Salena Coleman gave a powerful family impact statement about the killing by LASD of her son-in-law, Leroy Browning.
“The impact on my family has been financially devastating and mentally challenging. The police impounded my cars 10 times. They arrested my daughter for a misdemeanor warrant for filming the police. My daughter has PTSD from the police killing her son’s father. She would have a panic attack every time she saw the police pulling someone over. First she lost her job, then her house, then her car, and last her mind. It has been over 7 years and my family is still dealing with the effects.”
Other impacted families gave moving testimony, including Stephanie Luna, aunt of Anthony Vargas, who was shot 13 times from behind by sheriff deputies in 2018, the final two shots were to his head.
Police-Community Day of Dialogue – November 6
Because we believe in engagement and dialogue across all differences, CTC joined with faith based organizations, community members, and leadership of the Antelope Valley community for an evening of honest conversations with members of LASD. Attendees were divided up into small groups that consisted of community and sworn personnel to discuss issues of deputy gangs and community distrust of law enforcement.
CTC was able to share with the deputies honest accounts of what it is like for the average Black or Brown community member when they have contact with law enforcement. CTC asked the deputies in attendance to have some self-reflection as to why there is so much mistrust of them in some parts of the community. CTC stressed that if LASD truly wants the community to believe in them, they would have to work hard at showing the community that they were trustworthy.
Criminal Justice Accountability
Boycott WinCo Foods – Thanksgiving Protest
We are back at WinCo Foods in Lancaster Thanksgiving week, protesting and boycotting racist conduct by store employees that encourages law enforcement violence against our community. We are demanding:
- WinCo respects black and brown dollars.
- WinCo stops criminalizing their customers.
- WinCo prioritizes deescalating store issues instead of escalating them to law enforcement.
Are you shopping at WinCo where their actions led to the assault of an elderly black woman by a sheriff deputy? Are you shopping at WinCo where they have a history of criminalizing black people and escalating issues instead of defusing situations? Boycott WinCo and shop where not only your dollars are respected but YOU ARE RESPECTED.
The next CTC Criminal Justice Accountability Committee will meet on Monday December 4, 2023 at 1pm, virtually. Contact [email protected] to attend.
Los Angeles Civilian Oversight Committee Upcoming Meetings
Education Justice
AVUHSD Board Meeting December 14, 2023, 6:30 pm
Please join with CTC to provide public comment to the Board about issues facing our students. Subjects can included the need to invest in a new safety model that doesn’t rely on Law Enforcement, the District’s failure to provide total student wellness that fosters a sense of community school pride for ALL its students, and the over policing and discipline discrimination AVUHSD’s Black students and students with disabilities face on a daily basis.
Meeting Location: A.V.U.H.S.D. Boardroom, 176 Holston Drive, Lancaster, CA 93535
Youth Opportunities!
Freedom Art Squad
Freedom Art Squad is back tonight, Thursday Nov 16th, 5:30pm at the CTC Office!
Join us for a unique and inspiring Youth Oil Painting Class Series from November 16th to December 23rd, where young artists will delve into the world of art, self-expression, and social justice. Our “Exploring Social Justice Through Self Portraits” program is designed to empower young minds and teach them self-advocacy through the transformative medium of oil painting.
🎨 About the Program:
In this 6-week course, students aged 12-18 will discover the power of art as a means of self-discovery and a tool for advocating change. Through oil painting, participants will embark on a journey of self-reflection, self-expression, and social awareness.
🎉 Art Exhibition:
The course will culminate in an art exhibition on December 23rd, where students’ remarkable artwork will be on display. This event is an opportunity for participants to share their perspectives, raise awareness about social justice issues, and celebrate their artistic achievements with the community.
Youth Podcast
On Friday, Nov. 17th, 2023 The CTC Youth Squad will be hosting a meetup and planning session for our first podcast episode. One of the number one complaints of youth is not having anything to do in the AV. This CTC Youth Podcast will be used to highlight what kids go through in our schools while creating a space for the youth to express themselves. If you or someone you know would like to participate, please fill out the survey here: or scan the QR code on the flyer below.
Civic Engagement:
Show up, speak out, listen to your elected leaders and neighbors:
- City Council Meeting 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month @ 5pm
- Lancaster City Council Meeting 2nd and 4th Tuesday @ 5pm
- Board of Supervisor Regular Board meeting Tuesdays @ 9am
Reports and Information
Closing Section
Please share this newsletter with your networks and follow us on socials. We hope to see you at an upcoming event, and please reach out with any concerns.
Yours in CommUNITY,
The CTCAV Team
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For Nov 30th Newsletter:
Discrimination in Discipline Town Hall November 15
CTC and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County hosted a town hall to discuss the results of a two-year investigation into the Antelope Valley Union High School District that resulted in CTC suing the Antelope Valley Union High School District for discrimination in discipline against its Black students and Students with Disabilities. That data was the basis of a report authored by Dr. Jaimie Hernandez. The town hall focused on the report’s section devoted to Law Enforcement and Probation Referrals, Campus Security Officers (CSO), and the use of Restraints and Searches. Highlights from the presentation : Black students show the highest risk of law enforcement referrals for all nondisabled students, Black SWDs make up over 61% of all law enforcement referrals, AVUHSD relies heavily on CSO for student discipline, restraints, and managing the Student Support Center, and on-campus detention room. Students shared that handcuffing and searches of students by CSO was a daily occurrence. CTC will continue to educate the broader community about AVUHSD’s lawsuit through its town halls. The community education is vital as all current and future AVUHSD students will benefit from the systemic change the lawsuit is seeking to bring about.
