https://iclfi.org/pubs/slus/2025-orellana
June 30, 2025
U. S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli
United States Attorney’s Office
Central District of California
312 N. Spring Street, Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dear Sir:
We strongly protest the prosecution of Chicano and immigrant rights activist Alejandro Orellana. Drop the charges!
Orellana is a well-known supporter of the Centro CSO group in Boyle Heights, a Chicano social justice organization, and is also active as a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The FBI alleges that on June 9, Orellana drove a truck from which face shields were distributed to people protesting the massive ICE raids and detentions in downtown Los Angeles that day. This is no crime! The FBI grotesquely complains that these defensive shields obstruct law enforcement’s ability to fire harmful rubber bullets at protesters and deploy pepper spray. On June 12, FBI agents, along with National Guard and L. A. sheriff’s department, raided Orellana’s home and he was arrested and charged with “conspiracy” and “aiding and abetting civil disorders,” charges carrying a possible five-year sentence.
This prosecution is blatant retaliation against all the anti-ICE organizers and aims to chill further protest. On June 26, FBI agents accosted another Centro CSO activist, Verita Topete, while she was walking her dog, and confiscated her cell phone.
We demand that all charges against Orellana be dropped. Hands off Centro CSO and anti-ICE activists!
Sincerely,
Sheri Stoll
For the Partisan Defense Committee
cc (via email): thom.mrozek@usdoj.gov
