The Southlander
@thesouthlander.com
A worker-run investigative news outlet covering the Southland in California. No billionaire owners. No corporate overlords. No ads. Just journalists doing journalism.
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Subscribe at thesouthlander.com.
🎥 Here is a clip from an interview with Leo Martinez, an organizer with Ventura County Defensa (VC Defensa), as he reflects on ICE retaliating against him and on how his organization is prepared to fight
You watch the whole interview on our website: thesouthlander.com
You watch the whole interview on our website: thesouthlander.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:47 PM
🎥 Here is a clip from an interview with Leo Martinez, an organizer with Ventura County Defensa (VC Defensa), as he reflects on ICE retaliating against him and on how his organization is prepared to fight
You watch the whole interview on our website: thesouthlander.com
You watch the whole interview on our website: thesouthlander.com
The Southlander is honored to receive support from the Immediate Needs Fund established by Tiny News Collective. We will be using the funds to obtain media liability insurance, which is essential before we publish our first investigations of 2026.
Subscribe to stay up to date on the latest!
Subscribe to stay up to date on the latest!
We're excited to announce the 20 member newsrooms that have received funding from our Immediate Needs Fund: @autonomynews.co, Crosswinds News, Bottom Up Media, Chisholm Free Press, Esta es la Cosa, @kaheawaimedia.bsky.social, Miami Affordable Magazine ...
www.tinynewsco.org/tiny-news-gi...
www.tinynewsco.org/tiny-news-gi...
Tiny News gives second round of Immediate Needs grants to 20 member newsrooms
These $5,000 grants will help members secure essential back-office support, fill a salary gap, hire a contract grant writer and more.
www.tinynewsco.org
January 5, 2026 at 6:44 PM
The Southlander is honored to receive support from the Immediate Needs Fund established by Tiny News Collective. We will be using the funds to obtain media liability insurance, which is essential before we publish our first investigations of 2026.
Subscribe to stay up to date on the latest!
Subscribe to stay up to date on the latest!
Reposted by The Southlander
For The Southlander newsletter, I interviewed Leo Martinez from VC Defensa about the day an ICE agent T-boned his truck while he was patrolling an industrial area of Oxnard on October 16. Check it out! And subscribe to our newsletter!
An ICE agent slammed into his pickup truck twice then lied to cops about it. Check out @abemarquez.bsky.social's interview with Leo Martinez of immigrant advocacy group VC Defensa.
Hit-and-Lie: An interview with Ventura County Defensa’s Leo Martinez
An ICE agent slammed into his pickup truck twice then lied to cops about it. Check out @abemarquez.bsky.social's interview with Leo Martinez of immigrant advocacy group VC Defensa.
thesouthlander.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:09 PM
For The Southlander newsletter, I interviewed Leo Martinez from VC Defensa about the day an ICE agent T-boned his truck while he was patrolling an industrial area of Oxnard on October 16. Check it out! And subscribe to our newsletter!
An ICE agent slammed into his pickup truck twice then lied to cops about it. Check out @abemarquez.bsky.social's interview with Leo Martinez of immigrant advocacy group VC Defensa.
Hit-and-Lie: An interview with Ventura County Defensa’s Leo Martinez
An ICE agent slammed into his pickup truck twice then lied to cops about it. Check out @abemarquez.bsky.social's interview with Leo Martinez of immigrant advocacy group VC Defensa.
thesouthlander.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
An ICE agent slammed into his pickup truck twice then lied to cops about it. Check out @abemarquez.bsky.social's interview with Leo Martinez of immigrant advocacy group VC Defensa.
Reposted by The Southlander
In October, I attended the @empirefiles.bsky.social LA film premiere for their new documentary, Earth’s Greatest Enemy. By far, one of the most crucial topics & reporting of our lifetime. A must-watch!
For The Southlander newsletter, I wrote about the film ⬇️
For The Southlander newsletter, I wrote about the film ⬇️
For our most recent newsletter, journalist Morgan Keith spoke with Abby Martin about her documentary, "Earth's Greatest Enemy." The film chronicles how the escalation of climate catastrophes across the world are deeply entwined with the carbon footprint of the U.S. military-industrial complex.
Abby Martin’s new documentary takes aim at one of the world’s largest polluters: the U.S. military
Martin spoke with The Southlander about “Earth’s Greatest Enemy,” and her revolutionary optimism about the growing consciousness of people around the globe.
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
In October, I attended the @empirefiles.bsky.social LA film premiere for their new documentary, Earth’s Greatest Enemy. By far, one of the most crucial topics & reporting of our lifetime. A must-watch!
For The Southlander newsletter, I wrote about the film ⬇️
For The Southlander newsletter, I wrote about the film ⬇️
For our most recent newsletter, journalist Morgan Keith spoke with Abby Martin about her documentary, "Earth's Greatest Enemy." The film chronicles how the escalation of climate catastrophes across the world are deeply entwined with the carbon footprint of the U.S. military-industrial complex.
Abby Martin’s new documentary takes aim at one of the world’s largest polluters: the U.S. military
Martin spoke with The Southlander about “Earth’s Greatest Enemy,” and her revolutionary optimism about the growing consciousness of people around the globe.
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
For our most recent newsletter, journalist Morgan Keith spoke with Abby Martin about her documentary, "Earth's Greatest Enemy." The film chronicles how the escalation of climate catastrophes across the world are deeply entwined with the carbon footprint of the U.S. military-industrial complex.
Martha married her husband, Narciso Barranco, in 2023. Just a few short years later, their family sat around the dinner table on a seemingly normal night, waiting for him to return home and eat dinner together.
Narciso never got the chance to go home that night.
Narciso never got the chance to go home that night.
November 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Martha married her husband, Narciso Barranco, in 2023. Just a few short years later, their family sat around the dinner table on a seemingly normal night, waiting for him to return home and eat dinner together.
Narciso never got the chance to go home that night.
Narciso never got the chance to go home that night.
Narciso Barranco arrived to the U.S. in 1994. He spent 24 days locked up in a detention center after being violently arrested by a snatch squad of federal immigration agents in Santa Ana on June 21.
October 28, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Narciso Barranco arrived to the U.S. in 1994. He spent 24 days locked up in a detention center after being violently arrested by a snatch squad of federal immigration agents in Santa Ana on June 21.
Check out our latest newsletter. Our reporters @bencamach0.bsky.social and @kevin-flores.bsky.social sat down with Narciso Barranco, who ICE targeted.
thesouthlander.com/documentary-...
thesouthlander.com/documentary-...
‘Hope is the only thing that keeps you alive’: Narciso Barranco on enduring ICE detention
ICE targeted a father of 3 U.S. Marines. Watch our mini documentary where we sat down to talk with Narciso and his wife, Martha.
thesouthlander.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Check out our latest newsletter. Our reporters @bencamach0.bsky.social and @kevin-flores.bsky.social sat down with Narciso Barranco, who ICE targeted.
thesouthlander.com/documentary-...
thesouthlander.com/documentary-...
Check out our latest newsletter: In October, the government’s new fiscal year begins, & it will bring billions of dollars in increased funding for immigration enforcement
Kevin Flores sat down with Alvaro Huerta, who represents the Immigrant Defenders Law Center
thesouthlander.com/huerta-on-th...
Kevin Flores sat down with Alvaro Huerta, who represents the Immigrant Defenders Law Center
thesouthlander.com/huerta-on-th...
“They're targeting people who are just trying to make an honest living": Alvaro Huerta on the Supreme Court lifting limits on immigration sweeps
In October, the government’s new fiscal year begins, which will bring billions of dollars in increased funding for immigration enforcement.
thesouthlander.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Check out our latest newsletter: In October, the government’s new fiscal year begins, & it will bring billions of dollars in increased funding for immigration enforcement
Kevin Flores sat down with Alvaro Huerta, who represents the Immigrant Defenders Law Center
thesouthlander.com/huerta-on-th...
Kevin Flores sat down with Alvaro Huerta, who represents the Immigrant Defenders Law Center
thesouthlander.com/huerta-on-th...
Reposted by The Southlander
A shoutout to many of our members who are part of this trend: @51st.news, @coyotemedia.org, @505omatic.bsky.social, @theshout.shoutwichita.com.ap.brid.gy, @tayohelp.bsky.social, @thesouthlander.com, @newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 11:34 AM
A shoutout to many of our members who are part of this trend: @51st.news, @coyotemedia.org, @505omatic.bsky.social, @theshout.shoutwichita.com.ap.brid.gy, @tayohelp.bsky.social, @thesouthlander.com, @newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social
We are back with another #WorkerWednesday!
For almost a year before our soft-launch, we worked to lay the groundwork for this project. A lot of that labor involved conversations about how we can build a newsroom to better serve our needs, not the ruling class.
For almost a year before our soft-launch, we worked to lay the groundwork for this project. A lot of that labor involved conversations about how we can build a newsroom to better serve our needs, not the ruling class.
July 16, 2025 at 5:56 PM
We are back with another #WorkerWednesday!
For almost a year before our soft-launch, we worked to lay the groundwork for this project. A lot of that labor involved conversations about how we can build a newsroom to better serve our needs, not the ruling class.
For almost a year before our soft-launch, we worked to lay the groundwork for this project. A lot of that labor involved conversations about how we can build a newsroom to better serve our needs, not the ruling class.
We are a few weeks away from publishing our first investigative piece! Can you chip in to support LA’s only worker-owned investigative newsroom?
To meet our halfway goal for fundraising during our soft launch period, we need $29 in additional subscriptions. More fiscal support = more stories.
To meet our halfway goal for fundraising during our soft launch period, we need $29 in additional subscriptions. More fiscal support = more stories.
July 7, 2025 at 2:30 AM
We are a few weeks away from publishing our first investigative piece! Can you chip in to support LA’s only worker-owned investigative newsroom?
To meet our halfway goal for fundraising during our soft launch period, we need $29 in additional subscriptions. More fiscal support = more stories.
To meet our halfway goal for fundraising during our soft launch period, we need $29 in additional subscriptions. More fiscal support = more stories.
Reposted by The Southlander
The Southlander is ONE PERCENT away from halfway to our funding goal. We only need $29 to get to halfway yall. We’ve already been doing some critical coverage and providing our analysis on what’s happening. Help us get to 50% tonight yall. 🙏
thesouthlander.com
@thesouthlander.com
thesouthlander.com
@thesouthlander.com
July 7, 2025 at 2:01 AM
The Southlander is ONE PERCENT away from halfway to our funding goal. We only need $29 to get to halfway yall. We’ve already been doing some critical coverage and providing our analysis on what’s happening. Help us get to 50% tonight yall. 🙏
thesouthlander.com
@thesouthlander.com
thesouthlander.com
@thesouthlander.com
We paused our weekly intros while our reporters have been working to cover the state-sanctioned kidnappings in communities across the Southland, but we’re bringing Worker Wednesday back to continue sharing our perspective with you.
#WorkerLed #WorkerWednesday #TheSouthlander
#WorkerLed #WorkerWednesday #TheSouthlander
July 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
We paused our weekly intros while our reporters have been working to cover the state-sanctioned kidnappings in communities across the Southland, but we’re bringing Worker Wednesday back to continue sharing our perspective with you.
#WorkerLed #WorkerWednesday #TheSouthlander
#WorkerLed #WorkerWednesday #TheSouthlander
Reposted by The Southlander
When Robert Luna was the LBPD chief, I covered the violence his officers unleashed on peaceful protesters during the BLM uprisings in Long Beach. He’s at it again as Sheriff. This time his deputies injured two of my colleagues and other members of the public and press.
forthe.org/journalism/i...
forthe.org/journalism/i...
June 18, 2025 at 9:42 PM
When Robert Luna was the LBPD chief, I covered the violence his officers unleashed on peaceful protesters during the BLM uprisings in Long Beach. He’s at it again as Sheriff. This time his deputies injured two of my colleagues and other members of the public and press.
forthe.org/journalism/i...
forthe.org/journalism/i...
Reposted by The Southlander
Here’s the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
LAPC COUNTY COMPLAINT ECF FILED
www.documentcloud.org
June 18, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Here’s the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
We just filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for violating our First Amendment rights. Subscribe to thesouthlander.com and read our latest newsletter, which gives a more in-depth account of the ICE protests in LA and the injuries our reporters sustained on the ground.
June 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM
We just filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for violating our First Amendment rights. Subscribe to thesouthlander.com and read our latest newsletter, which gives a more in-depth account of the ICE protests in LA and the injuries our reporters sustained on the ground.
Reposted by The Southlander
my thread from twitter:
yo @newsmanzach i hope you never get hit by one of those projectiles you’re saying on tv that “won’t hurt”. Those are the same projectiles that are injuring people and press.
journalists shouldn’t lie, much less on air. Do better, stop making propaganda that serves to
yo @newsmanzach i hope you never get hit by one of those projectiles you’re saying on tv that “won’t hurt”. Those are the same projectiles that are injuring people and press.
journalists shouldn’t lie, much less on air. Do better, stop making propaganda that serves to
CBS/KCAL reporter Zach Boetto saying on live TV that “less-lethal” rounds “won’t hurt but it might be enough to push you back.” People have lost eyes, teeth, fingers, and more from being shot by these projectiles. Police use these types of weapons for what they call “pain compliance.”
June 15, 2025 at 3:55 AM
my thread from twitter:
yo @newsmanzach i hope you never get hit by one of those projectiles you’re saying on tv that “won’t hurt”. Those are the same projectiles that are injuring people and press.
journalists shouldn’t lie, much less on air. Do better, stop making propaganda that serves to
yo @newsmanzach i hope you never get hit by one of those projectiles you’re saying on tv that “won’t hurt”. Those are the same projectiles that are injuring people and press.
journalists shouldn’t lie, much less on air. Do better, stop making propaganda that serves to
Reposted by The Southlander
I spoke too soon. Here’s what the scene look like before. There was just a lot of rubber bullets that were fired. The second Photo is now on second and Broadway.
June 15, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I spoke too soon. Here’s what the scene look like before. There was just a lot of rubber bullets that were fired. The second Photo is now on second and Broadway.
Reposted by The Southlander
Zach Boetto was at the Compton/ Paramount protest, and I overheard him and his entire crew say how scared they were going into the crowd to cover the protest. I took a selfie of the moment because KTLA has a massive budget while I’m there with my cellphone.
June 15, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Zach Boetto was at the Compton/ Paramount protest, and I overheard him and his entire crew say how scared they were going into the crowd to cover the protest. I took a selfie of the moment because KTLA has a massive budget while I’m there with my cellphone.
Reposted by The Southlander
CBS/KCAL reporter Zach Boetto saying on live TV that “less-lethal” rounds “won’t hurt but it might be enough to push you back.” People have lost eyes, teeth, fingers, and more from being shot by these projectiles. Police use these types of weapons for what they call “pain compliance.”
June 15, 2025 at 12:52 AM
CBS/KCAL reporter Zach Boetto saying on live TV that “less-lethal” rounds “won’t hurt but it might be enough to push you back.” People have lost eyes, teeth, fingers, and more from being shot by these projectiles. Police use these types of weapons for what they call “pain compliance.”
Reposted by The Southlander
Protests against the ICE terror are facing violent repression from the LA county sheriffs department and LAPD just outside of LA City Hall at grand Park now. Chemical, kinetic and stun weapons are being used against crowds that are chanting and holding signs and flags.
#LA
#LA
June 15, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Protests against the ICE terror are facing violent repression from the LA county sheriffs department and LAPD just outside of LA City Hall at grand Park now. Chemical, kinetic and stun weapons are being used against crowds that are chanting and holding signs and flags.
#LA
#LA
Our reporters are out in the field again this weekend! If you could ask them any question about what it's like for journalists to cover ICE protests, what would you want to know?
Don't forget to subscribe or donate at thesouthlander.com, which supports our ability to bring you breaking news.
Don't forget to subscribe or donate at thesouthlander.com, which supports our ability to bring you breaking news.
June 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Our reporters are out in the field again this weekend! If you could ask them any question about what it's like for journalists to cover ICE protests, what would you want to know?
Don't forget to subscribe or donate at thesouthlander.com, which supports our ability to bring you breaking news.
Don't forget to subscribe or donate at thesouthlander.com, which supports our ability to bring you breaking news.
Reposted by The Southlander
I'd missed this incident with @abemarquez.bsky.social from @thesouthlander.com last Saturday. Glad LA Times brought it to light. Not so happy with LASD repeatedly shooting him. This isn't "crowd control," this is "press attack." www.latimes.com/california/s...
June 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I'd missed this incident with @abemarquez.bsky.social from @thesouthlander.com last Saturday. Glad LA Times brought it to light. Not so happy with LASD repeatedly shooting him. This isn't "crowd control," this is "press attack." www.latimes.com/california/s...