They are communist Insurgents

Centro CSO (Community Service Organization) is a grassroots community organization based in the Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles areas of California. It’s known for its advocacy on behalf of the Chicano/Mexican-American community and other oppressed groups.

Here’s a breakdown of what Centro CSO is:

Focus Areas: Centro CSO advocates for a range of left-wing goals, with a primary focus on:
Immigrant Rights: They strongly advocate for “Legalization for All” undocumented immigrants and work to protect communities from ICE activity, including organizing patrols to warn residents of potential raids.
Police Accountability: They are active in fighting against police brutality and demanding community control of police, including efforts to ban symbols like the “Fort Apache” logo associated with alleged deputy gangs in the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
Public Education: They work to defend public education and oppose the privatization of schools.
Anti-Imperialism/Anti-War: They participate in anti-war movements and express solidarity with international struggles.
Chicano Self-Determination: As part of the radical-left Chicano movement, they support the concept of self-determination for Hispanic people, with historical ties to the idea of Aztlán.
Tactics: Centro CSO primarily operates through:
Rallies and Protests: They frequently organize and participate in demonstrations, such as May Day rallies and the annual Chicanx Moratorium.
Community Organizing: They engage in outreach, hold “Know Your Rights” workshops, and organize community meetings to mobilize residents.
Petitions and Advocacy: They launch petitions and advocate for specific policy changes.
Relationship with FRSO: Centro CSO has strong ties to the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). Leaders of Centro CSO, such as Marisol Marquez and Carlos Montes, are also members and leaders of the FRSO. This indicates a shared ideological framework and a collaborative approach to activism.
Historical Context: The name “Community Service Organization” (CSO) has a rich history in California. The original CSO, founded in 1947, was a significant Latino civil rights organization that played a key role in training figures like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. While Centro CSO (Boyle Heights) carries on the name and some of the advocacy, it’s distinct from the mid-20th-century organization in its explicit socialist alignment.
Grassroots Nature: Centro CSO emphasizes its grassroots nature, working directly within the communities it serves, particularly in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles.

Centro CSO, being a grassroots community organization with strong ties to the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), primarily relies on a few key funding sources:

Individual Donations and Fundraising Drives: This is their most significant source of funding. They actively solicit donations from their members, supporters, and the broader community they serve. They utilize platforms like GoFundMe for specific campaigns and frequently appeal for financial contributions to cover their operational expenses and support their various activism efforts (e.g., printing costs for flyers, food for events, equipment).
Member Contributions: While not explicitly detailed as “dues” in the same way a formal socialist party might have, it’s highly probable that individuals who are active members and leaders of Centro CSO, especially those also involved with FRSO, contribute financially to the organization’s work.
Grassroots Support: They emphasize being “100% grass-roots, and… not affiliated with any political parties” in their fundraising appeals, suggesting a reliance on smaller, widespread donations from the community rather than large institutional grants (though they are aligned with FRSO, which has its own funding mechanisms).
Voluntary Labor: A significant “source” of their operational capacity is the voluntary labor of their members and supporters. Many of their activities are carried out by unpaid activists and organizers, which helps keep their overhead costs low.
It’s important to note that Centro CSO does not appear to be a legally established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means they wouldn’t receive traditional grants from large foundations in the same way other, larger CSOs might. Their funding model is very much centered on direct community support and the contributions of those who believe in their mission.