END INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE

Silencing community members through fines extends beyond the immediate consequences of legal penalties or fines. It contributes to a cycle of poverty, marginalization, and systemic discrimination, further widening the gap between privileged and marginalized groups.

BIPOC communities like Pomona experience higher rates of police presence, stop-and-frisk encounters, and arrests compared to predominantly white neighborhoods. This unequal focus can result in increased tensions, fear, and a sense of being constantly surveilled. 

Gentrification leads to the displacement of long-time residents due to rising property values, increased rent, or property taxes. As the City becomes more desirable for wealthier individuals or businesses, original residents, particularly those from marginalized communities, are pushed out of their homes and community.

People experiencing poverty often resort to actions such as loitering, street vending, sleeping in public spaces, or panhandling due to being houseless or a lack of resources. Instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness or poverty, law enforcement penalizes these behaviors, essentially punishing individuals for trying to survive.

When certain institutions or individuals control access to essential resources or information, it creates and perpetuates systemic inequalities, disadvantaging certain groups and maintaining power dynamics. We see this through a lack of transparency on Public Records Act Requests and underinvestments in our youth – limiting our community’s ability to thrive. 

Environmental injustices, such as air pollution disproportionately affecting certain communities, often stem from institutional decisions and policies that result in unequal exposure to harmful pollutants including with the Waste Transfer Station in South Pomona.