Ted Hayes was sentenced Tuesday, December 18,2007, following his conviction for misdemeanor trespass in the office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  The homeless activist and founder of The Dome Village and acting chair of Choose Black America ended up in the mayor’s office after repeated blocked efforts to talk to the Mayor and City Council members about the numerous problems facing Black Americans resulting from the impact of illegal immigration on the community. 

According to Hayes his issues include: “The disastrous effects of illegal immigration on homeless peoples (* who disproportionately to the national and Los Angeles general populations are Black men in particular, followed by Black women), loss of jobs to people who were willing to work for sub-standard wages, Latino/Hispanic ethno-racial cleansing of Blacks from society as well as violence by Hispanic gangs trying to drive Blacks out of South Los Angeles, and threats of violence upon Mr. Hayes and his family by members of the pro illegal immigration forces.”

Numerous requests by Mr. Hayes to Mayor Villaraigosa for an appointment were refused so on September 18, Hayes appeared early in the morning at the Mayor’s office to again request a meeting, but this time he was determined to wait for that meeting. However, he was not granted an appointment and at 6 pm he was told that the offices were closing and he would have to leave. 

After more than an hour of negotiations with security personnel at which time Mr. Hayes explained that he was seeking sanctuary in the Mayor’s office because of threats of violence against him, he was arrested for trespassing. 

All of this came about as a result of the June 23, 2007 march organized by Hayes and Choose Black America to speak up on behalf of the effects of illegal immigration on the Black Community.  Hayes and his group had a permit for a march and to conduct a rally at Leimert Park . 

However, before they could rally at the park, pro illegal immigration forces mounted a permit less rally and Hayes was denied access by the LAPD because of concerns for potential violence against the marchers. 

A campaign to attack Hayes had been mounted by the pro illegal immigration forces spreading a rumor that Hayes collaborated with the Ku Klux Clan and was bringing them to South Los Angeles creating a dangerous environment in the community.

On June 26, Ted Hayes and others addressed the Los Angeles Police Commission requesting a full investigation into the Leimert Park incident.  Then on July 3, Hayes and a contingent of homeless individuals marched from Skid Row to Parker Center to demand justice from the Los Angeles Police Commission as a result of the Leimert Park incident. 

Ultimately, the LAPD presented a verbal report to the Police Commission dispelling the rumor but the Commission and elected officials of Los Angeles refused to bring the findings to the public’s awareness.  David Hernandez, community activist, said that “a high ranking police official had told him and Mr. Hayes that there were those in City government who wanted the rumor to continue in order to control Mr. Hayes.”

In court, Mr. Hayes explained that he has been assaulted and he and his family’s lives have been threatened.  Concern for his safety as well as the need to discuss the plight of homeless citizens relegated to sleeping on the streets and to discuss the problems created by illegal immigration on the African American community drove Mr. Hayes to press his issues in person and then to seek sanctuary from the threatened violence.

Mr. Hayes sent the judge a two page letter declining potential probation and requesting the full jail sentence.  Judge Craig J. Mitchell refused his request saying while he has followed Mr. Hayes’ career and respects what he is doing, he did not prove that he had done everything possible prior to civil disobedience. 

Additional Judge Mitchell felt that the people of LA had been deprived of Mr. Hayes’ ongoing service to them by the time spent in court proceedings and that his ability to contribute to the community would not be served by incarceration.  The City Attorney’s representative, Ms. Porter, also urged against jail time because of the danger to Mr. Hayes’ life. 

The final punishment handed down by Judge Mitchell was one day in jail with credit for time served.  Hayes and his attorney, public defender David Knuth, will be appealing the conviction and punishment.