Tenant Rights Activist victim of Arson Attack Demand a Full Investigation

Dear readers,
this announcement is similar to the one a couple of days ago except there are some new details about what you can do to put pressure on the authorities to investigate this arson attack. Regular readers of the blog are probably familiar with the struggles the Campaign For Renter's Rights has waged on behalf of tenants in the LA area. The fire department has indicated that the cause of the fire that badly destroyed a CRR activist's car was arson, and while we have no evidence as to the perpetrators, those familiar with the history can draw their own conclusions.
The safety of tenants and CRR activists is a concern to us and we demand an investigation.

Please call the number below on Wednesday and if you are in the LA area we would welcome your support. If you are a union member or belong to an organization feel free to mention your affiliation and if you are outside of the country and can call, that would be good.

Tenant Rights Activist victim of Arson Attack

Demand a Full Investigation

CALL COUNCILMAN GARCETTI’s OFFICE (323) 478-9002
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12th 9am-11am

Arson Attack
At 4 am on Wednesday August 5th Arturo Velasquez' car was set on fire outside his home. Arturo is a leading member of the Campaign for Renters Rights and on the editorial board of Facts For Working People. He has been organizing tenants in his building for two years. He is popular with tenants for helping force the landlord, Alfredo Alverado, to make major repairs and considerably bettering the quality of the lives of his own family and all the tenants at his apartment building in his low income neighborhood in East Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Background
After helping lead the campaign, the landlord spent a lot of money taking Arturo to court to attempt to evict his family. The landlord lost this blatant retaliatory eviction attempt. Again, this year the landlord attempted to take Arturo's family to court on another made-up charge. Once again, the courts sided with Arturo and his family. Last week the landlord turned down Arturo's attempts to get them to enter into mediation. Two days later his car was set on fire.

Stop the Violence
Last year all of Arturo's car tires were slashed. The community, his fellow tenants, and the Campaign for Renters Rights raised a Defense Fund and paid for new tires. We let the landlord know that we would not back down.

We are attempting to get Councilman Garcetti's office to force the police to properly investigate the situation. The L.A. Fire Department have deemed that the car was burnt as the result of an incendiary attack and that the fire was arson.

We will not stand by and watch Arturo Velasquez and his family be intimidated by violence and allow that violence to escalate. This is a civil rights issue and needs to be addressed firmly.

What you Can Do

1/ RALLY with Arturo and the Campaign for Renters Rights at Councilman Garcetti’s Office,5500 Hollywood Blvd (@ N.Western Ave.) WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12th at 10am

2/ CALL Councilman Garcetti’s Office at (323) 478-9002 on Wednesday August 12th ask What are they doing about the Arson Attack on Arturo Velasquez?

3/ DONATE TO OUR DEFENSE FUND. Please send a check payable to the Campaign for Renters Rights to the following address: the Velasquez Family, 4225 1/4 Lockwoood Avenue, Los Angeles, 90029. You can also donate through PayPal using the button on this site. . Finally, you can put some dollars in the collecting can when you see us out on the streets.

Campaign for Renters Rights (510) 595-5545 National Office
(310) 323-0620 in L.A.