"Pre-Prison Diaries" is a new series from the Community Rights Campaign in which organizers, students and parents share stories and observations about truancy tickets, police in schools, zero tolerance, and other "pre-prison" conditions and experiences. Ashley Franklin starts the series with a look at the effects of the truancy ticketing law on one high school graduate.

We are pleased to announce that LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan and Councilmember Tom LaBonge have withdrawn their motions to deputize police officers to issue LA Municipal Code 45.04 Daytime Curfew Citations, popularly known as "Truancy Tickets," inside LAUSD schools. Ms. Galatzan will now be chairing an agenda item on Truancy and Attendance at the October 20th Board meeting, where Community Rights Campaign organizers will be presenting. To advance this breakthrough, important next steps are still needed....

Please join us in supporting ally and friend Alex Sanchez, internationally recognized peacemaker and co-founder of Homies Unidos in Los Angeles. Alex was arrested in June on conspiracy charges brought by the FBI. Alex was denied bail on June 30th. The bail appeal hearing is now scheduled for Monday, October 19th, 2009 and your action is needed to support the campaign for a free a trial.

Important Victory for Transit Riders! On June 30th, the California Court of Appeal, Third District, held that $1 billion in "spillover" gas tax revenues dedicated to public transportation by Proposition 116 may not be diverted by the California Legislature to the General Fund. That decision became final when the California Supreme Court refused to review it on September 29.

"Teachers, Not Tickets!" Even though it's been well over two hours ago, I still feel the energy of today's rally! It was so inspiring to see all of the dedicated students that took their day off of school from Westchester High and Cleveland High and came out to support the Community Rights Campaign!

We had students from Westchester and Cleveland High School organizing and helping folks make phone calls to Board member Galatzan. It was inspiring to see the students from coming out of Manual Arts High School (off Vermont and King) asking questions about our campaign and making calls to Galatzan. The energy on the street was great and the drum and chant crew just made everyone even more pumped up.

On Monday, September 28^th, dozens of students, parents and members of the Community Rights Campaign urged LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan through phone calls and petitions to withdraw her motion in support of expanding Los Angeles Municipal Code 45.04...

MTA approved to support H.R. 2746 (Carnahan Bill) at the September MTA board meeting. This bill will allow local transit agencies to use anywhere from 30-50% of the transit funding they receive from the federal government to operate their public transportation system.

With the recent news of the extension of the Federal Surface Transportation Act, Rosa Miranda, organizer, mother, and member of the Bus Riders Union reports back about her visit to Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard's office on September 8, 2009. In our third delegation visit of the summer, Rosa speaks extensively on the ways public transportation and specifically, buses affect her daily life and the role of Congressional representatives in the debate around public transportation.

E-action Committee's first ever BRU Monthly Membership Meeting web-report, bringing you the newest and greatest from the BRU Monthly Membership Meeting.  This month featured updates of the Clean Air and Economic Justice plan, as well as an update on the implementation of the Bus Only Lane.