The City Council Tuesday will honor civil rights attorney Luis Carrillo for his 47-year career advocating on behalf of his clients and the Latino community.
Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who introduced the commendatory resolution on Dec. 5, will lead the ceremony in Council Chambers during Tuesday’s council meeting at 10 a.m. Carrillo’s family, friends, and supporters will be in attendance as he receives this recognition.
Karen Waters, daughter of Rep. Maxine Waters, and Oscar D’ León, of the “Lion of Salsa,” will also be present.
While Carrillo is set to retire, his commitment to the Latino community dates back to the 1960s when he championed the cause of East L.A. High School students during “Walkouts,” which were protests that demanded equal opportunities and conditions for students attending Los Angeles Unified School District schools in Latino communities.
He litigated institutional child sexual abuse cases and several civil rights cases focused on improving Los Angeles Police Department’s use of force training requirements and policy.
Carrillo represented hundreds of children who were sexually abused in a public school setting, which resulted in several eight-figure settlements and verdicts on behalf of his clients.
These were known as the LAPD Rampart Scandal in 2000, the MacArthur Park Melee in 2007, LAUSD Miramonte in 2014, among others.
“Throughout his career, Luis Carrillo has played a pivotal role in civil rights cases that have led to changes in police department and school district training, polices, and procedures and improvements in the quality of life for community members,” Hernandez’s resolutions stated.
It continued to read, “(Carrillo’s) dedication to his clients and his relentless pursuit of justice have firmly established his reputation as a champion for civil rights and an unwavering advocate for underserved communities.”