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In last month’s election, California voters overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 6. The Runner initiative, as it was also known, called for an increase in penalties and spending for prison policies for the state’s juvenile detention system. It lost in every single county. The defeat of Prop 6 was celebrated as a victory for organizations campaigning against it, but activist efforts aren’t stopping there. California still ranks first in the nation in prison spending, but only forty-seventh in school spending. With a cost of $436 million annually, the state’s juvenile justice system has a recidivism rate of 72 percent with the majority of those affected being youth of color. In response to poor conditions in juvenile detention facilities, the Youth Justice Coalition is currently organizing a “Marching for Respect.” The 50 mile youth-led march, which began yesterday in Sylmar and concludes this Sunday in Norwalk. As part of the march, youth are demanding the creation of new jobs for young people, and more gang intervention workers and youth centers in every community instead of the so-called tough-on-crime punitive measures.

GUESTS: Maritza Galvez, Crystal Dixon, organizers with the Youth Justice Coalition

For more information about the march, contact Maritza at 323-448-7052. The YJC can be reached at 323-327-1259, and www.youth4justice.org.

Details about this week’s March for Respect:
December 19th
Start at 10:00 AM: Glendale Galleria, Glendale End: Los Angeles City Hall

Actions/Events/Surveying: Surveys at Central Juvenile Hall/Eastlake Court; 4:00 PM Meeting with Probation Chief Robert Taylor at Probation Headquarters, Downey; Meeting with LAPD and LA Sheriffs Department (pending confirmation).

Route: March from the Glendale Galleria down Brand, left on San Fernando Road, through Glassel Park, Cypress Park; merge onto W. Avenue 26; make a right on Broadway, left on Temple, right on Main Street to the entrance of Los Angeles City Hall.

December 20th

Start at 10:00 AM: City Hall, Los Angeles End: Imperial Highway/Central Ave., Watts

Actions/Events/Surveying: Vigil for Christian Portillo at 1 PM at Lennox Park (Lennox and Condon); CURB (Californians United for a Responsible Budget) Meeting at 1 PM at Chucoʼs Justice Center; Community Meeting to Address Police Violence at 2 PM at KIWA; Vigil at Avalon and 104th for Suzy Pena; Party at 6:30 PM at Chucoʼs Justice Center.

Route: Start at the Main Entrance of City Hall, Main Street; Right on E. 1st Street; Left on Broadway; Left on Florence; Right on Avalon (vigil for Suzy Pena) down to 104th for vigil and then down Avalon to Imperial, Right on Imperial and ends at Imperial Highway and Central Avenue.

December 21st

Start at 10:00 AM: Imperial Hwy/Central Ave., Watts End: Norwalk CYA Reception Center

Actions/Events/Surveying: Masses at Comptonʼs Sacred Heart Church, Surveying visitors at DJJ Norwalk and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.

Route: March from Imperial Hwy/Central Avenue, down Imperial Highway to CYA Norwalk passing Probation Headquarters. Closing memorial at CYA/DDJ (California Youth Authority/Department of Juvenile Justice)