Local community activist Carlos Pineda dies at 43
Carlos Pineda, a community activist, a volunteer for the American Civil Liberties Union, and city council candidate, has died. He was 42 years old.
Pineda recently ran for a Palm Desert City Council seat in the Nov. 6 election. He did not win a council seat but was able to amass over 2,000 votes.
According to Pineda’s husband Bill, Pineda passed away on Jan. 1 at 6:05 p.m. His husband confirmed Pineda originally hospitalized because of a cold. Unfortunately, the cold turned into pneumonia and he was unable to recover.
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On his campaign site, Pineda was described as a “relentless advocate for equality, public safety, social justice, LGBTQIA rights, access to healthcare and ending homelessness throughout the Coachella Valley.”
A little over a year ago, Pineda officially became a U.S. citizen. He was known as a big advocate for Coachella Valley immigrants.
In March 2018 he spoke with News Channel 3 during an ACLU rally at an Indio Greyhound station to help bus riders know their rights during a border patrol raid.
“What they’re doing is unacceptable and I think being racially profiled should not be tolerated,” Pineda told News Channel 3’s Jeremy Chen.
Read: Rally held to protest border patrol searches of Greyhound buses
Pineda helped organized a peaceful demonstration in Palm Desert & Palm Springs to protest the separation of immigrant families in June 2018.
Read: Locals protest President Trump’s immigration policy in Palm Desert
Local politicians like Coachella City Councilmember Megan Beaman-Jacinto described Pineda as “a light in our valley, a tireless fighter for justice, a passionate advocate for truth.”
Recently elected Indio City Councilmember Oscar Ortiz said of Pineda, “We will miss your loving humor and your strong will to fight for your community.”
