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California
Political repression plays out state by state — shaped by local institutions, prosecutors, and movements for defense. These are the documented political prisoners and cases the census holds for California.
1,533Documented
32In custody
958Released
13Awaiting trial
Eras of repression in California
Where California’s entries fall across the census’s historical eras.
1930s 361
1970s 206
1960s 205
1910s 176
2020s 125
1980s 90
Recent dashboard entries from California
The newest published events and reporting located in California, updated automatically from the live dashboard.
Other
Whistleblower alleges FBI targeted Los Angeles anti-ICE protesters
Prosecution
Charges dropped against five Stanford students over pro-Palestine protest
Prosecution
Judge dismisses all charges against the Stud Alley 18 arrested during San Francisco Pride weekend
Protest
Two injured at Teamsters protest outside Amazon warehouse; sheriff says motorcyclist intentionally struck crowd
Other
Five invited reporters held at gunpoint by Vandenberg Space Force Base security
Other
Photojournalist Steven Berumen shoved by federal officers while covering an LA immigration protest
Prosecution
Anti-ICE protester accused of pouring lighter fluid on CHP car is sentenced to prison
Prosecution
Westlake man sentenced for anti-ICE protest actions
Documented cases
1,533 entries in the census — every one stays in the record, whether the case is open or closed.
C
Carlos Hernandez
Carlos Hernandez was a striking strawberry worker convicted with four other strikers of assault and battery in...
J
Juan Lopez
Juan Lopez was a striking strawberry worker convicted with four other strikers of assault and battery in Alham...
G
Geronimo Cervantes
Geronimo Cervantes was a striking strawberry worker convicted with four other strikers of assault and battery...
M
Marcellina Reyes
Marcellina Reyes was among forty-one striking vegetable workers arrested May 17, 1936 in the Palos Verdes bean...
P
Paul Heide
Paul Heide was a picket at the L. A. Young Steel and Wire Company strike in Oakland, California. Page 5 report...
E
Edward Green
Edward Green was a picket at the L. A. Young Steel and Wire Company strike in Oakland, California. Page 5 repo...
F
Feingold
Feingold was sentenced to 100 days in the Blank eviction cases, according to the Daily Worker.
The report ide...
M
May Lebow
Released
May Lebow is individually named as a leader arrested during the Los Angeles cloak strike in the February 24 di...
W
Wasserman
Released
Wasserman is individually named as a leader arrested during the Los Angeles cloak strike in the February 24 di...
J
Julius Klein
Released
Julius Klein is individually named as a leader arrested during the Los Angeles cloak strike in the February 24...
H
Hyman
Released
Hyman is individually named as a leader arrested during the Los Angeles cloak strike in the February 24 dispat...
J
Jamani
Jamani was among the prisoners who organized a Black August commemoration while in secured housing at Soledad....
Z
Zezu
Zezu was among the prisoners who organized a Black August commemoration while in secured housing at Soledad....
R
Rowena Gurner
Rowena Gurner was arrested in a San Mateo challenge to restrictions on abortion information.
P
Pat Maginnis
Pat Maginnis was arrested in California challenges to restrictions on abortion information.
P
Peter Camejo
Peter Camejo reported his arrest for speaking without a permit at a Vietnam Day Committee meeting.
P
Paul Jacobs
Paul Jacobs was arrested during a Sacramento social workers’ strike demonstration.
B
Barncho
Released
Barncho was a combatant in the Modoc War (1872–1873) — the only Indigenous fighters in U.S. history convicted...
S
Slolux
Released
Slolux was a combatant in the Modoc War (1872–1873) — the only Indigenous fighters in U.S. history convicted a...
S
Stacey
Stacey was a California activist whom Labor Defender reported was abducted, tarred and feathered after demandi...
W
Ward
Ward is named in the April 17 report and McKinney as arrested April 5 at Hayward City Plaza while organizing u...
W
Wilson
Wilson, identified only as secretary of the International Labor Defense in the San Francisco waterfront report...
O
O'Rourke
O’Rourke, identified as a Communist candidate for supervisor in San Jose, was arrested while trying to stop Na...
J
Jerome Aba
Released
Jerome was a Muslim Filipino human-rights defender detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at San Franc...
Institutions in California
Prisons, jails, and detention centers in California that appear in the census’s case files.
San Quentin State PrisonSan Quentin, California
171 cases
Federal Bureau of Prisons
60 cases
Sharp Park Detention CampSharp Park, California
33 cases
Presidio StockadeSan Francisco, California
28 cases
Los Angeles County JailLos Angeles, California
26 cases
Folsom State PrisonFolsom, California
22 cases
San Quentin Rehabilitation CenterSan Quentin, California
16 cases
Metropolitan Detention Center, Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
15 cases