La Raza is the largest organization in the U.S. fighting for the civil rights of Hispanic Americans. It organizes protests, assists union organizers, fights various court cases, supports political candidates and (in some areas of the country) fields candidates of its own for various local offices. It’s an important organization, and it stands with the NAACP and the ACLU as defenders of civil rights (although it is smaller than the others and often disagrees with those others, their work is of a kind).

In Orange County, California, La Raza is facing systematic intimidation and pressure from local police, apparently with the support of local politicians. It’s a small but chilling example of what’s happening to local activists all over the U.S. — the net is tightening, and if we aren’t careful, anyone who doesn’t ferverently support the ruling class will be labeled a terrorist.

These are not good times.