BAY AREA CONTACT:

Katrina Socco - Coordinator, AF3IRM – SF Bay Area

650-714-9151 (cell)

sfbayarea@af3irm.org

LOS ANGELES CONTACT: 

Angela Bartolome - Coordinator, AF3IRM LA

562-746-9216

losangeles@af3irm.org

WOMEN CHALLENGE UC REGENTS BOARD:

STOP CONDONING RAPE

STATEWIDE ACTIONS TO BE HELD IN CALIFORNIA

[ San Francisco & Los Angeles, California] On March 16, 2011 the Justice for Laya campaign will hold a statewide day of action against UC Student Regent Jesse Cheng for his role in sexually assaulting a student named Laya. The UC Irvine Office of Student Conduct has recently found Cheng responsible for sexual battery. Womenʼs groups, community leaders, faculty, UC students and alumni will speak at The University of California Regents Board meeting and hold a vigil outside to demand that Cheng be removed from his position as sole student representative for the UC Regents Board. Immediately following the action in San Francisco, a press conference with new findings and calls to action from the Womenʼs and Filipino community will be held in Los Angeles.

WHO: Justice for Laya, Northern California Coalition

WHAT: ACTION AT UC REGENTS BOARD MEETING

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, March 16 at 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: UCSF Mission Bay Campus, 1675 Owens St, San Francisco, CA

WHO: Justice for Laya, Southern California Coalition [CONFIRMED SPEAKERS]

Angela Bartolome - AF3IRM, Los Angeles Coordinator

Jennifer Nazareno - Mariposa Center for Change

Nic John Ramos - UC Irvine Alumni, Former Kababayan President

Christine Araquel - Kabataang maka-Bayan (Pro-People Youth), Vice Chairperson

WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES

WHEN: Wednesday, March 16 at 12:00 noon

WHERE: Feminist Majority Press Room, 433 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Additional Information: There will be opportunities to photograph and interview bilingual Justice for Laya Coalition leaders (Tagalog & English), UC students, and community advocates. Other photo opportunities include dramatic vigil both inside and outside the UC Regents board meeting room with banners, props and campaign posters.

Endorsing Organizations include: AF3IRM - Formerly known as Gabriela Network, The Mariposa Center for Change, Kabataang Maka-Bayan Pro-People Youth, Delta Phi Gamma at UC Irvine, Social Justice Alliance at UC Riverside, Students for Chinatown at UC Riverside, Beta Phi Sorority at SFSU, UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine, and the entire UC Berkeley BRIDGES Coalition: RAZA Recruitment & Retention Center, Native American Recruitment & Retention Center, Pilipino Academic Student Services, REACH! - Asian/Pacific Islander Recruitment & Retention Center, Mixed Student Union, & Arab Recruitment & Retention Center, UC Berkeley Afghan Student Association, Pilipino Studies Collective at UC Riverside; Concerned Pilipino American Alumni of UC Irvine; Katipunan at UC Riverside, Kamalayan Kollective at UC San Diego, Emelyn dela Pena, Director, UCSD Women's Center, and the statewide UC AFRIKAN BLACK COALITION

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