Royce Esters

"We have a good reputation for helping people," said Royce Esters, the NAEJA president.

Esters said he hopes to draw at least 200 people to the event, which will be held at the Petroleum Club in Long Beach on Saturday, June 14.

Tickets to the banquet are $50 and tax deductible.They can be purchased at the door, or by calling Esters at 310-637-5300 or 310-918-4047.

Royce Esters, the president and CEO of NAEJA, said before the meeting that his group invited community leaders so they could meet with the people they serve.
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Although the meeting was announced in September, Esters said that the problem was put more into focus by last weekend's fatal shootings in Long Beach of Marine Lance Cpl.Sok Khak Ung, who survived a shrapnel wound in Iraq, and his friend, Vouthy Tho.

"When a Marine comes to town after going to Iraq and gets killed, then something's wrong,' Esters said."You can get killed quicker in South Los Angeles, Compton and Long Beach than in Iraq.' He said that shootings of blacks and Latinos in Compton "is not news anymore,' but last month's fatal shooting of Yetunde Price, the half sister of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, put the spotlight back on Compton.

"It seems there have been too many shootings involving the Long Beach Police Department and people who were either allegedly mentally ill or unarmed," said Royce Esters, Southern California president of NAEJA.

Esters said he has urged the FBI and California Attorney General's office to review the case and "find out if this young man's civil rights have been violated."

"We don't want to see this man railroaded and convicted before an unfriendly Orange County jury for a crime he didn't commit," said Royce Esters, president of NAEJA.