Resurrection Church rallies community against lingering fallout from Lineage fire

Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights hosted a candlelit vigil attended by roughly 50 locals, who also received N-95 masks before moving to a teach-in on the Lineage fire’s impact. Speakers highlighted the foul smell of rotting food that still blankets the neighborhood and the infestation of flies and rats, describing the situation as a form of environmental racism. Monsignor John Moretta, an 85-year-old priest, and Father Jorge Moncada testified before the South Coast Air Quality Management District, emphasizing the community’s repeated battles against threats ranging from a proposed prison to lead-spewing plants.

Activist Alma Marquez, founder of Protect LA Now, recounted personal displacement and renewed faith, while longtime parishioners like Maria E. Morales and Cynthia Rios pledged to organize further actions. The event underscores the church’s historic role as a hub for Latino activism in Los Angeles, linking spiritual practice with grassroots resistance.