Space Guidelines : About the Space : Who Was Chuco? : Groups at Chuco's : How Can You Use This Space?
Building a Social Justice Movement to Challenge the Criminalization, Deportation & Mass Incarceration
of Youth and Communities
Located at 1137 E. Redondo Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302
On the border of South Central and Inglewood
(323) 235-4243
Chuco’s Justice Center serves as a youth and community space, resource center and gathering place for organizers, artists, educators and organizations building a social justice movement in Los Angeles. The CJC works to challenge the criminalization and mass incarceration of youth and communities; police unaccountability and state violence (ie: police brutality, ICE raids, gang injunctions); or the creation and/or expansion of the prison industrial complex. The CJC is a collective space where the membership and organizations involved work together to provide shared leadership that is most beneficial to the community and larger justice movement.
Current Member Organizations are: Youth Justice Coalition & FREE LA High School, Critical Resistance, October 22 Coalition Against Police Brutality, It’s Time for A Real Change, TEEAMWORKS, Chapter TWO, Mothers of the Community and Inglewood Peace Makers. Many groups have used the space to organize and hold events, such as LA Incite!, FACTS (Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes), CURB (Californians United for a Responsible Budget), LadyFest, Clitfest, Soul 2 Soul BreakStars and Be the Cause.
Chuco’s Justice Center is dedicated to Jesse “Chuco” Becerra and all the youth lost to the streets, prisons, police violence or deportation. Jesse, 2-23-81 to 9-24-05, was gunned down on early Saturday morning outside a party on 21st Street and La Brea. We loved Chuco for many reasons – he was a committed youth organizer with the YJC, a loving father, community leader, friend, boyfriend, son, cousin, homie, brother and nephew. He was working on building a truce between three rival neighborhoods. He was generous – quick to share a kind word, a smile and a helping hand. We do not have an explanation for this senseless killing, but we want people across L.A. to know this – We will make sure that Chuco did not die in vain. He has inspired many young people to continue.
Meetings to coordinate space security, guidelines for use, inter-organizational support and respect, and space development/expansion occur on the last Sunday of each month at 2 PM at Chuco’s. At least one representative from each organization who holds an office at the space must attend. The meetings are open to all, but decisions are made by consensus, and when not reached, by vote with two votes per organization.
RESPECT THE SPACE, THE YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY
Everyone who enters Chuco’s Justice Center (or participates in any actions, trips or events connected to this space or the organizations sharing this space), has the following rights and responsibilities:
1. FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION. The responsibility to promote and teach ourselves and others attitudes, behavior and language that treat all people with dignity, love and respect regardless of their race, class, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, gang/crew/neighborhood affiliation, religion, immigration status and/or involvement with the “juvenile” or “criminal” injustice systems.
2. FREEDOM FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE. The right to a space free from violence and/or harassment of any kind whether it’s sexual, verbal, physical or emotional. Everyone has a right to have conflicts resolved through nonviolent communication and mediation.
3. FREEDOM FROM ARREST, INCARCERATION AND DEPORTATION. The responsibility to protect the freedom of all who enter the space, (especially freedom from police contact or addiction). We must have the backs of those most at risk (people on a gang database/injunction, Probation, Parole, people with felony convictions, those without U.S. documents and those in recovery or struggling to battle addiction to drugs and/or alcohol). Don’t do anything at, or bring anything to the space, trips, events or actions that will endanger or threaten the freedom, safety, dignity or health of others.
4. FREEDOM FROM HATEFUL OR HURTFUL EXPRESSION. The responsibility to use respectful language whether in conversation, art, music, films or other means. Nobody’s perfect but everybody is expected to work on treating others with respect and dignity. This includes learning about and listening to different cultures, identities and perspectives. We will all mess up. Check yourself and expect to be checked.
5. RIGHT TO A CLEAN AND SAFE SPACE.
5A. The responsibility to respect, protect, clean and maintain the physical space; and the responsibility to respect and protect other people’s property, furniture, materials and art.
5B. The responsibility to use only the Graf Room for tagging, throw ups, slap tags, scribes or any other form of graffiti. No set tripping, slashing, or disrespectful topping. In order to protect yourself and others from personal harm/retaliation, from police harassment and/or arrest, and to respect our community, do not tag on people’s homes and/or businesses. Any tagging within two square blocks of the space will be immediately buffed and the person(s) will be held accountable. (Additional areas of the space outside the graf room are set aside for murals that are authorized by the “Piece Cru”. Get an application if you want to get up.)
6. The right to a drug and alcohol free space And the right to a space free of police which drugs and alcohol will bring down on everyone. No alcohol or drugs may be brought into, kept or used in the space or in the area within two square blocks of the space. You may not enter the space buzzed, faded, high or drunk, or smelling of drugs or alcohol. You have a right to a safe way home if you are unable to safely make it home on your own. We care about you and your health. You also have the right to resources and support to stop or cut back.
7. The right to a space free of weapons
No weapons may be brought into, kept or used in the space. Any weapons found will be confiscated.
8. The right to a smoke-free environment
No cigarettes may be smoked in the space or directly outside the doors of the space. In order to smoke, cross the street. Adults may not smoke with youth under 18 years of age. We care about you and your health. You have the right to resources and support to stop or cut back on your smoking.
9. RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
The responsibility to organize for justice for ourselves, our families and our communities. This is a political space. Honor it, all those behind the walls and razor wire of the juvenile and criminal injustice system, those lost to deportation, police or street violence, and the millions of known and unknown warriors who came before us in the struggle by getting active.