Kayla Garcia-Pebdani

Kayla Garcia-Pebdani is a fourth-year student at UC Davis, studying Political Science–Public Service with double minors in Human Rights and Professional Writing. She actively engages in social justice issues and advocacy through her roles as an intern for Article 26 Backpack, the Co-Lead for Students Demand Action at UC Davis, and her previous involvement with Catalyst California as a Government Relations Intern. Kayla hopes to further expand her knowledge and skills during her time with the Vanguard. Through her experiences, she aims to highlight injustices in everyday life and provide means for the public to stay aware and hopefully become inclined to get involved.

Articles by Kayla

Anti Police Terror Project Releases Report on Decarcerating Transportation

OAKLAND, CA – The Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) here released a report last month, “Decarcerating Transportation: A…

COURT WATCH: Defense Questions Witness Testimony in DUI Trial

WOODLAND, CA – Deputy Public Defender Kumar Sankara raised concerns regarding the primary, and only, witness testimony…

California DOJ Investigation Absolves Police of Wrongdoing in Shooting Death of Los Angeles Man Who Called for Help

OAKLAND, CA – California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a new report this week conducted on the…

COURT WATCH: Prosecutorial Misconduct Questions Continue in Retrial of 2010 Murder Case

SAN DIEGO, CA—A San Diego County Superior Court hearing proceeded this week here investigating the actions of…

Election Prep Op-Ed: A Re-Examination of Immigration Statistics – Immigrants Commit Less Crime

WASHINGTON, DC – In preparation for the 2024 election cycle, The Hill published an article this past…

California Policy Lab Report Highlights Short-Term Repercussions of LA Bail Reforms

LOS ANGELES, CA – California Policy Lab (CPL), a non-partisan organization, produced a report about the new…

Advocates Rally, Strongly Criticize California Governor’s Decision to Kill ‘Mandela’ Measure to End Unjust Use of Solitary Confinement in Prisons

SACRAMENTO, CA —The California Mandela Campaign, at a rally here at the State Capitol this week, was…

Police Officer Indicted for Murder after Fatal Shooting of Pregnant Woman Suspected of Shoplifting

COLUMBUS, OH —The police officer responsible for the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman suspected of shoplifting…

Think Tank Report: While Crime Rates Decrease, Documentation Lags Behind

WASHINGTON DC —The Council on Criminal Justice, a non-partisan think tank, has released its midyear report, showcasing…

Task Force Provides Jail Recommendations to Alameda County Board of Supervisors

OAKLAND, CA – The “Care First, Jails Last” task force Monday presented a list of 58 recommendations,…

Wrongful Conviction Recently Overturned After 34 Years of Imprisonment for a Crime Man Did Not Commit

ST. LOUIS, MO.—The Midwest Innocence Project recently released an update regarding Christopher Dunn and his exoneration after…

ACLU, Others Sue over New Louisiana Law Demanding Display of 10 Commandments in Public Schools

By Kayla Garcia-Pebdani BATON ROUGE, LA — The American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union…

COURT WATCH: Judge Denies Prosecution Request to Reprimand Accused

WOODLAND, CA –Deputy District Attorney Aimee McLeod last week motioned to reprimand an unhoused, accused man in…

‘Civil Liberties Make for Strange Bedfellows’ – Upholding the Free Speech Clause

By Kayla Garcia-Pebdani NEW YORK, NY – A New York Times political columnist recently commented on a…

Alameda County Federal Dublin Prison Shut Down after Extensive Sexual Abuse of Incarcerated Women

By Kayla Garcia-Pebdani ALAMEDA, CA—The Bureau of Prisons, as expected, has announced the shutdown of Federal Correctional…

Reparations Proposals OK’d by California Senate, Advance to California State Assembly

By Kayla Garcia-Pebdani SACRAMENTO, CA—The California State Senate last week approved several reparation proposals for Black Californians,…

California Department of Justice Report about Antioch Cop Shooting Death of Guadalupe Zavala Recommends No Prosecution of Police

By Kayla Garcia-Pebdani OAKLAND, CA – California Attorney General Rob Bonta this week released a report regarding…