Vandals lob bags of dog poop at L.A.-area LGBTQ youth center, officials say
The source? Bags of discarded dog feces.
The center is a partnership between the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Latino Equity Alliance and provides youth clubs, community-building workshops, and cultural and legal resources to the LGBTQ+ community of South Los Angeles. But recently, the center has seen a pattern of dog feces being thrown in front of and onto the awning of the building's entrance.
'There were over 10 bags. That was the second time that we've had to do a full sweep of the awning … I just worry about, what if it does escalate in the future?' Sanva Lojero, Mi SELA's programs manager, told NBC Los Angeles. 'This is a youth resource center, so we have clients coming in each day and I don't want them to feel like they're getting harassed.'
It's unclear who is throwing the feces — or why. But given the center serves LGBTQ+ youth, some maintain it's deliberate, potentially hate-motivated vandalism.
The Latino Equity Alliance denounced the recent incidents as 'abhorrent' and 'unacceptable' in a statement posted on Instagram.
'In 2025, it is shocking that young people and community organizations continue to face such targeted hate and intimidation. While law enforcement has emphasized that action cannot be taken without catching the perpetrators in the act, that does not diminish the urgent need for … a public stance against hate in our communities,' the statement read.
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has pledged a $2,500 grant to install more security cameras around the community center in hopes of capturing the perpetrators.
'The fact that this person is going out of their way to do this says everything about them and nothing about our LGBTQ community in Southeast L.A.,' Hahn said in a statement.
With security cameras now likely on their way, Mi SELA's staff say they won't be deterred from their mission.
'We're not going anywhere, we're going to still keep providing resources,' Lojero said.
Anyone with information can contact the Bell Police Department at (323) 585-1245.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Vandals lob bags of dog poop at L.A.-area LGBTQ youth center, officials say
For the past several months, volunteers and community members arriving at the Mi SELA youth center in the city of Bell have encountered a putrid smell. The source? Bags of discarded dog feces. The center is a partnership between the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Latino Equity Alliance and provides youth clubs, community-building workshops, and cultural and legal resources to the LGBTQ+ community of South Los Angeles. But recently, the center has seen a pattern of dog feces being thrown in front of and onto the awning of the building's entrance. 'There were over 10 bags. That was the second time that we've had to do a full sweep of the awning … I just worry about, what if it does escalate in the future?' Sanva Lojero, Mi SELA's programs manager, told NBC Los Angeles. "This is a youth resource center, so we have clients coming in each day and I don't want them to feel like they're getting harassed.' It's unclear who is throwing the feces — or why. But given the center serves LGBTQ+ youth, some maintain it's deliberate, potentially hate-motivated vandalism. The Latino Equity Alliance denounced the recent incidents as 'abhorrent' and 'unacceptable' in a statement posted on Instagram. 'In 2025, it is shocking that young people and community organizations continue to face such targeted hate and intimidation. While law enforcement has emphasized that action cannot be taken without catching the perpetrators in the act, that does not diminish the urgent need for … a public stance against hate in our communities,' the statement read. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has pledged a $2,500 grant to install more security cameras around the community center in hopes of capturing the perpetrators. 'The fact that this person is going out of their way to do this says everything about them and nothing about our LGBTQ community in Southeast L.A.,' Hahn said in a statement. With security cameras now likely on their way, Mi SELA's staff say they won't be deterred from their mission. 'We're not going anywhere, we're going to still keep providing resources,' Lojero said. Anyone with information can contact the Bell Police Department at (323) 585-1245. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Vandals lob bags of dog poop at L.A.-area LGBTQ youth center, officials say
For the past several months, volunteers and community members arriving at the Mi SELA youth center in the city of Bell have encountered a putrid smell. The source? Bags of discarded dog feces. The center is a partnership between the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Latino Equity Alliance and provides youth clubs, community-building workshops, and cultural and legal resources to the LGBTQ+ community of South Los Angeles. But recently, the center has seen a pattern of dog feces being thrown in front of and onto the awning of the building's entrance. 'There were over 10 bags. That was the second time that we've had to do a full sweep of the awning … I just worry about, what if it does escalate in the future?' Sanva Lojero, Mi SELA's programs manager, told NBC Los Angeles. 'This is a youth resource center, so we have clients coming in each day and I don't want them to feel like they're getting harassed.' It's unclear who is throwing the feces — or why. But given the center serves LGBTQ+ youth, some maintain it's deliberate, potentially hate-motivated vandalism. The Latino Equity Alliance denounced the recent incidents as 'abhorrent' and 'unacceptable' in a statement posted on Instagram. 'In 2025, it is shocking that young people and community organizations continue to face such targeted hate and intimidation. While law enforcement has emphasized that action cannot be taken without catching the perpetrators in the act, that does not diminish the urgent need for … a public stance against hate in our communities,' the statement read. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has pledged a $2,500 grant to install more security cameras around the community center in hopes of capturing the perpetrators. 'The fact that this person is going out of their way to do this says everything about them and nothing about our LGBTQ community in Southeast L.A.,' Hahn said in a statement. With security cameras now likely on their way, Mi SELA's staff say they won't be deterred from their mission. 'We're not going anywhere, we're going to still keep providing resources,' Lojero said. Anyone with information can contact the Bell Police Department at (323) 585-1245.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Bell LGBTQ center vandalized with dozens of bags of dog feces
For several months, an LGBTQ center in Bell has spent its days cleaning up dozens of bags of dog feces from their front entrance. The Mi SELA LGBTQ+ youth resource center, operated by the Latino Equality Alliance, provides a range of community services, including mental health and substance abuse workshops, support groups for parents of LGBTQ+ individuals, and neighborhood clean-ups. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn awarded the center a $2,500 grant to upgrade its security cameras and shared video footage of the center's staff shoveling dozens of dog feces off its awning. "The fact that this person is going out of their way to do this says everything about them and nothing about our LGBTQ community in Southeast LA," Hahn said in a statement. "This is gross and cowardly. I hope that the people who depend on Mi SELA know how much they are loved and supported in this community and do not take this hate to heart." Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Bell Police Department at (323) 585-1245.
