YNOT Movement is a left-leaning grassroots advocacy organization bases in Los Angeles, California. The organization is very small and has a limited online presence but states a focus on intervention trainings for current and former gang members and providing services for the homeless in east Los Angeles. The organization is directed by Adam Zaragoza, an ex-convict who specializes in gang intervention. The organization is a member of the Check the Sheriff Coalition, a far-left coalition seeking to oust Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva (D). ^{1 2 3}

Background

YNOT Movement was founded in August of 2020. The organization is registered as a California-based nonprofit and has little presence online aside from a website containing limited information. The organization states that its mission is to provide peace mediation services among gang members and has provided free meals to East Los Angeles District 1 residents, and has provided water to the homeless in the area. ^{4 5}

According to registration information on file with the state of California, the organization was incorporated as a charitable and community service-based non-profit with the intention of providing “peace mediation” services to Los Angeles Communities. Other officers listed on the organization’s corporate filings in addition to Adam Zaragoza include Denise Marron, Teresa Espinoza, and Cynthia Lopez. ⁶

People

Adam Zaragoza is the director of YNOT Movement and the only individual listed on its website. He is an ex-convict who joined a gang, was arrested and tried as an adult at age sixteen, and sentenced to 12 years in state prison. Since he was released, he attended the Los Angeles Violence Intervention Academy (LAVITA) and was certified in gang intervention. He has also been involved with intervention programs including the Project with Healthy Relationships conducted by Urban Strategies, and the Prison Education Project, which helps with career development and life skills. Zaragoza has also been trained in suicide intervention through Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). ^{7 8}

Zaragoza is also a member of Soledad Enrichment Action (SEA), another Los Angeles-based gang intervention organization. ⁹

Check the Sheriff Coalition

YNOT Movement is one of thirty organizations that are members of the Check the Sheriff Coalition, a far-left criminal justice organization demanding the resignation of Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva (D). ¹⁰ the coalition includes many notable center-left to far-left organizing and activist groups in the greater Los Angeles area such as the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, the National Immigration Law Center, People’s City Council Los Angeles, Occupy ICE LA, InnerCity Struggle, and Black Lives Matter Los Angeles. ¹¹

The members of the coalition consist of large organizing groups as well as many small organizations such as the YNOT Movement that mostly exist on paper. The coalition has issued a letter demanding the resignation of Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva (D) for what it claims is his office being insufficient in its support of far-left criminal justice and immigration policies. The coalition has also authored a letter urging the California Attorney General’s office investigate the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. ¹²

1. “About.” Check the Sheriff Coalition. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about
2. “Home.” YNOT Movement. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.ynotmovementinc.com/
3. “YNOT Movement.” Open Corporates. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ca/C4638599
4. “Home.” YNOT Movement. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.ynotmovementinc.com/
5. “YNOT Movement.” Open Corporates. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ca/C4638599
6. “YNOT Movement.” California Secretary of State.” Accessed September 16, 2021. https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=04638599-30398435
7. “Home.” YNOT Movement. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.ynotmovementinc.com/
8. “YNOT Movement.” Open Corporates. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ca/C4638599
9. “LA Intervention Coalition.” Urban Peace Institute. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://www.urbanpeaceinstitute.org/la-intervention-coalition
10. “About.” Check the Sheriff Coalition. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about
11. “About.” Check the Sheriff Coalition. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about
12. “About.” Check the Sheriff Coalition. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about